A research project from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and charity Scottish Autism entitled ‘Autism, Ageing and Social Care’ has used creative methods to begin a wider conversation about the support that autistic people will need when they get older.
The research team worked with autistic film-makers to create footage about the hopes, concerns and needs of autistic people as they get older. Workshops with autistic adults, whose ages range from 45 to 80, and care professionals, also led to a series of artworks reflecting on what good support looks like for this population in older age.
The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – the UK’s national funding agency for investing in science and research.
Academic lead for the project, Professor Mary Stewart, Director of Social Interaction, Mental Health and Wellbeing at Heriot-Watt University, and member of the University’s Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies says:
“Using filmmaking and art helped us to ask autistic people who communicate in diverse ways to express what’s important to them and how to plan for ageing and change. Everybody finds ageing difficult, but it can be particularly challenging for autistic people to access appropriate health and social care provision.”
Find out more, watch the films and view the artworks here: https://www.scottishautism.org/about-autism/practice-policy-and-research/autism-ageing-and-social-care