The document discusses Robyn Steward's research directly from autistic individuals on topics not often covered elsewhere such as stimming, meltdowns, women's safety issues, periods, and self-employment. It describes surveys she conducted that provided insights into these subjects from an autistic perspective. Her goal is to highlight important issues and create resources for the autistic community using what she learns from her research.

1. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 1
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Research From a person not
just a textbook
By Robyn Steward

2. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 2
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Disclaimer
• I do not speak for all Autistic people
• My work aims to highlight issues that often don’t get much
attention and stimulate further work ,
• I focus on using what I learn to create resources for the
community

3. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 3
Autism from a person not just a textbook
2008
• I started travelling to the USA
Photo by Daniel Klaffke on Unsplash

4. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 4
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Photo
by
The
Climate
Reality
Project
The Conference that taught me the value
of research

5. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 5
Autism from a person not just a textbook
• The first ever survey I put together was on Stimming ,
• It had 100 Autistic people’s responses within 9 hours
• By This reaction I realized that this was important too
people, and that maybe I could make a difference
Photo by Christin Hume on Unspla

6. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 6
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Stimming

7. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 7
Autism from a person not just a textbook
What did people say?
• 102 unique types of stims
• 3 main reasons Calm down , reduce anxiety , deal with senses
• 50% said they enjoyed it
• 30% of people said sometimes they enjoyed it
• 72% of people said they had been told at some point not to
do it.

8. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 8
Autism from a person not just a textbook
• Liz was director of CRAE ( center for research in autism
and education) at University college london, she made me a
honorary research associate this gave me access to a ethics
board for future surveys and guidance on doing it properly

9. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 9
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Meltdowns

10. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 10
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Difference between meltdowns and
tantrums in the words of Autistic people.
“Not intentional, once
the cycle starts it has
to run its course,
physical pain if I dont
go with the process,
mostly from frustration
from being
misunderstood and not
able to be understood
clearly “
“...a 'meltdown' differs from
a run-of-the-mill loss of
temper because it becomes
impossible for me to
process any kind of
information in a rational
manner.”

11. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 11
Autism from a person not just a textbook
11
27
39
47
37
10
17
21
5 5 6
55
67
76
68 67
22
69
27
32
28
51
46
42
21
35
3
What does having a meltdown feel like?

12. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 12
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Top 3 reasons for meltdown causes
• Stress
• Emotionally overwhelmed
• Anxiety

13. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 13
Autism from a person not just a textbook
How does it feel after a meltdown?
• Exhausted
• Embarrassed
• In pain emotionally

14. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 14
Autism from a person not just a textbook
What helps?
• Sleep
• Talking to someone who understands you face to face
• Listening to Music

15. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 15
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Autistic women’s safety

16. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 16
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Women and safety survey
• Autistic women were more sustainable to manipulation from
others
•‘I know what it's like to desperately want friends and to do
anything to make them happy and accept you, in the end it's not
worth it because it just makes you more miserable. It's taken me
nearly 30 years to understand that not everybody who is friendly
towards me has nice intentions and that a real friend would not
make you feel bad about yourself. Better to have no friends
then friends who treat you like dirt.’
•Kel, research participant.

17. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 17
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Period Research

18. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 18
Autism from a person not just a textbook

19. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 19
Autism from a person not just a textbook
You don’t just have to use pads or Tampons
• There are many other options
Cloth Pads Menstrual cup Period underwear

20. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 20
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Self employment

21. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 21
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Self employment
• 100 Autistic people
Self employed full time (30+ hours a week) 21.37%
Self employed part time (16 hours or less a week) 25.64%
part self employed, part employed 12.82%
Have been self employed in the past 17.95%
Would like to be self employed 23.93%
not sure 11.11%
Retired 2.56%

22. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 22
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Areas of difficulty
• Knowing where to start
• Getting work
• Networking

23. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 23
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Research Passport

24. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 24
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Heart N Soul at the Hub

25. Click to edit Master title style
Click to edit Master subtitle style
9/10/2021 www.robynsteward.com 25
Autism from a person not just a textbook
Contact
www.robynsteward.com
robyn@robynsteward.com