If you are on the autism spectrum, and want to help researchers understand the spectrum better, you may want to join the Gateway Project.
To quote from the home page:
This Gateway Project is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ursinus College, and the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE), which is itself a collaboration between Oregon Health & Science University, Syracuse University, and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. The Gateway Project aims to serve as a gateway to research that is committed to the following values:
- Inclusion: Studies have been developed in collaboration or consultation with individuals on the autistic spectrum.
- Respect: Strengths-based and respectful perspectives and language are used in all phases of research including reporting.
- Accessibility: Every attempt is made to create research participation materials that are physically and culturally accessible to all participants.
- Relevance: Research questions are relevant and useful to the autistic adult community.
The Gateway Project is recruiting participants on the autistic spectrum and participants with and without disabilities for a series of continuing Internet-based research studies on topics such as health care, well-being, and problem solving.
I’ve taken part in the study for about 2 years. Everything (so far) has been through online surveys. Some are long, but you can stop them and finish later.
I’ve always been in favor of helping researchers.
