Dr. Wenn Barnabas Lawson ((PhD) AFBsS; MAPs) with Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG), Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, is an autistic researcher who has 3 autistic offspring and 3 autistic granddaughters. He is also a lecturer, British Psychologist, advocate, and poet, sharing his experiences for more than 3 decades. He has published internationally and serves as an associate professor at Curtin University (WA). He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Autism Association of America, a member of the Editorial Board for the journal 'Autism in Adulthood', a board member of the Autism Research Institute (ARI) US, an Ambassador for I CAN (Autistic Youth Advocacy) and has a YouTube channel and home page.
In 2008, he won 4th position as the Victorian Australian of the Year. In 2017, he presented to the United Nations on matters of Autism and aging. In 2021, he won the Lesley Hall disability leadership lifetime achievement award. In 2023, he and the Curtin team won the EdX Award for Excellence in Online Teaching. Dr. Lawson is passionate about all things Autism and intersectionality.
www.wennlawson.com
ORCID: 0000-0002-5079-852X
Personal Statement:
I am an internationally-regarded autistic developmental and educational British psychologist and researcher whose major area of research expertise is Autism. I completed a doctorate in psychology at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia, in 2009, 'exploring the cognitive theory of autism and introducing a new cognitive theory of autism" based around Monotropism: Single Attention & associated Cognition in Autism (SAACA)'. I continued to contribute (from 2005 -2023) to the Master's Autism Course with Birmingham University (UK), lecture at various universities in Melbourne and the UK, and operate my own Practice as an Autism Consultant. I have written, co-written, and contributed to over 30 books on Autism while continuing to lecture, conduct research and see clients. I have written and/or contributed to over 50 papers concerning Autism and behavior that challenges aging in Autism, Autism and sexuality, Autism and gender, Autism and school and Autism and sensory challenges, and Autism and memory. In 2015-(ongoing), I joined the Autism CRC as both a practical member and contributor to its 'Research Academy' and 'Future Leaders program'. In 2017 & 2023, I joined the Think Tank in Vancouver, Canada, on Autism & aging, see https://autismcanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AC_2017-ThinkTank_Final.pdf.
I was on the board for I CAN (Australia) and now act as an I CAN ambassador. I am on the editorial board for the Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment, Autism in Adulthood Journal, and Global Science Journal of Intellectual Disability.
I am on the US Autism Advisory Board and the Autism Research Institute Board (ARI) and a member of CARG (Curtin Autism Research Group), Western Australia.
Between 2018 and 2020, I worked with the South Australian Government Department of Education as an autism consultant within the complex needs team, exploring ways to assist autistic students with a variety of challenges.
Throughout my career, my research concerning the cognitive theory of Autism (monotropism), which I shared with Dr. Dinah Murray (1946-2021), has continued to challenge traditional cognitive theories of Autism. See: Murray, Lesser & Lawson, 2005, Autism; Lawson, W. 1998- 2021 JKP. London.
http://monotropism.com
Work History Past & Present
• 1993- ongoing, Researcher, Author, Poet, Advocate, and Educationist
• 2005-2023 Tutor/lecturer (part-time) University of Birmingham’s (UK) Autism Masters Course.
• 2009- ongoing, Free Lance British Psychologist
• 2015- ongoing ACRC, All levels of co-production: Autism Research Academy; Autism National Guidelines (Australia) https://www.autismcrc.com.au/connect-hub/reports/researching-autism-together-workshop 2018- Editorial Board- Autism in Adulthood Journal.
• Wenn presents workshops and training in Australia and around the world on all Autism related topics, but in particular, Monotropism, the cognitive style in Autism, aging and Autism, Gender variance and Autism, and 'learning' in Autism. His research focus is 'learning across the life span' with papers published on 'GAMMA and autistic attention,' 'Delayed Object Permanence and autism,' Autism and Interoception; ‘Single Attention & associated Cognition in Autism (SACCA)’ and many others. He also has written and/or contributed to over 30 books on autism and related topics.
Honors
Autism Association US Lifetime Advocacy Award October 2023
Autism CRC Achievement in Autism Spectrum Research Award 2023 for ‘Autism and Mental Health MOOC CurtinX: Autism and Mental Health | edX
Autism CRC Achievement in Autism Spectrum Research Award 2020- Inclusive Research Category for 'Autism and Quality of Life Project'
Autism CRC Achievement in Autism Spectrum Research Award, Dec 2020 – Inclusive Research Category for "The Hidden Histories of Late-Diagnosed Autistic Adults: An Oral History Study".
Named by Autism agencies across Australia in 2013 for autism advocacy and awarded at APAC, 2013, Adelaide, SA
Lesley Hall Lifetime Achievement Award for Disability Leadership (2021)
Victorian Australian of The Year (4th) 2008
In 2008, he won 4th position as the Victorian Australian of the Year. In 2017, he presented to the United Nations on matters of Autism and aging. In 2021, he won the Lesley Hall disability leadership lifetime achievement award. In 2023, he and the Curtin team won the EdX Award for Excellence in Online Teaching. Dr. Lawson is passionate about all things Autism and intersectionality.
www.wennlawson.com
ORCID: 0000-0002-5079-852X
Personal Statement:
I am an internationally-regarded autistic developmental and educational British psychologist and researcher whose major area of research expertise is Autism. I completed a doctorate in psychology at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia, in 2009, 'exploring the cognitive theory of autism and introducing a new cognitive theory of autism" based around Monotropism: Single Attention & associated Cognition in Autism (SAACA)'. I continued to contribute (from 2005 -2023) to the Master's Autism Course with Birmingham University (UK), lecture at various universities in Melbourne and the UK, and operate my own Practice as an Autism Consultant. I have written, co-written, and contributed to over 30 books on Autism while continuing to lecture, conduct research and see clients. I have written and/or contributed to over 50 papers concerning Autism and behavior that challenges aging in Autism, Autism and sexuality, Autism and gender, Autism and school and Autism and sensory challenges, and Autism and memory. In 2015-(ongoing), I joined the Autism CRC as both a practical member and contributor to its 'Research Academy' and 'Future Leaders program'. In 2017 & 2023, I joined the Think Tank in Vancouver, Canada, on Autism & aging, see https://autismcanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AC_2017-ThinkTank_Final.pdf.
I was on the board for I CAN (Australia) and now act as an I CAN ambassador. I am on the editorial board for the Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment, Autism in Adulthood Journal, and Global Science Journal of Intellectual Disability.
I am on the US Autism Advisory Board and the Autism Research Institute Board (ARI) and a member of CARG (Curtin Autism Research Group), Western Australia.
Between 2018 and 2020, I worked with the South Australian Government Department of Education as an autism consultant within the complex needs team, exploring ways to assist autistic students with a variety of challenges.
Throughout my career, my research concerning the cognitive theory of Autism (monotropism), which I shared with Dr. Dinah Murray (1946-2021), has continued to challenge traditional cognitive theories of Autism. See: Murray, Lesser & Lawson, 2005, Autism; Lawson, W. 1998- 2021 JKP. London.
http://monotropism.com
Work History Past & Present
• 1993- ongoing, Researcher, Author, Poet, Advocate, and Educationist
• 2005-2023 Tutor/lecturer (part-time) University of Birmingham’s (UK) Autism Masters Course.
• 2009- ongoing, Free Lance British Psychologist
• 2015- ongoing ACRC, All levels of co-production: Autism Research Academy; Autism National Guidelines (Australia) https://www.autismcrc.com.au/connect-hub/reports/researching-autism-together-workshop 2018- Editorial Board- Autism in Adulthood Journal.
• Wenn presents workshops and training in Australia and around the world on all Autism related topics, but in particular, Monotropism, the cognitive style in Autism, aging and Autism, Gender variance and Autism, and 'learning' in Autism. His research focus is 'learning across the life span' with papers published on 'GAMMA and autistic attention,' 'Delayed Object Permanence and autism,' Autism and Interoception; ‘Single Attention & associated Cognition in Autism (SACCA)’ and many others. He also has written and/or contributed to over 30 books on autism and related topics.
Honors
Autism Association US Lifetime Advocacy Award October 2023
Autism CRC Achievement in Autism Spectrum Research Award 2023 for ‘Autism and Mental Health MOOC CurtinX: Autism and Mental Health | edX
Autism CRC Achievement in Autism Spectrum Research Award 2020- Inclusive Research Category for 'Autism and Quality of Life Project'
Autism CRC Achievement in Autism Spectrum Research Award, Dec 2020 – Inclusive Research Category for "The Hidden Histories of Late-Diagnosed Autistic Adults: An Oral History Study".
Named by Autism agencies across Australia in 2013 for autism advocacy and awarded at APAC, 2013, Adelaide, SA
Lesley Hall Lifetime Achievement Award for Disability Leadership (2021)
Victorian Australian of The Year (4th) 2008
