Discover what we do and how we carry out our research.
Launched in 2016, the Autism Community Research Network @¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ [ACoRNS] is a collaborative academic Centre dedicated to informing and improving experiences of autistic children, young people and adults. Through co-produced research, ACoRNS informs and enhances education, health, and community services through bridging research, policy, and practice to create meaningful impact.
Working in partnership with experts by experience, professionals, schools, local authorities, and community organisations, ACoRNS takes neurodiversity-informed, strengths-based approaches to:
Identify research questions that matter to practice and the wider autism community
Develop and apply innovative and creative methods to support and empower autistic children, young people and adults to share their views and experiences to improve outcomes
Co-create accessible, shareable resources in collaboration with autistic people and their families
Generate high-quality research evidence that informs and shapes practice, policy, and future research
Create positive impacts on professional practice, public understanding and lived experiences
Educate and mentor the next generation of expert professionals, including teachers and educational psychologists
Provide continuing professional development opportunities through training and knowledge exchange
We have received prestigious external funding for our research from the , , Epilepsy Research UK, and the .
ACoRNS was honoured with the for making an outstanding contribution to the University’s ‘Triple Helix’ mission, strengthening the connections between education, research and knowledge exchange, and enterprise.
