Wales Autism Research Centre (WARC)

27/07/2026

WARC's Dr Ari Dyer has just published a short summary of their recent research in Developing Minds Digest. DMD is a website that aims to make youth mental health research more accessible to members of the public - particularly young people, parents, teachers and clinicans. We are really pleased that Ari has found such a great place to share their work. We recommend checking out Ari's article and having a look at some of the other great summaries that are available!

Submitted by Ari Dyer

18/06/2026

WARC was lucky enough to have Dr Kristelle Hudry from La Trobe University, Australia visit us last month! Kristelle was on a study visit and spent three weeks with us, where she met with many of the researchers within WARC and Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental Science. Kristelle leads the Childhood Autism and Parenting Team at La Trobe (https://capteam.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/). We got to learn more about her research, including a study evaluating a national playgroup programme in Australia that focusses on supporting young children with disabilities and developmental differences, along with their families. Thanks so much for visiting Kristelle - we hope to see you again! The photograph shows Kristelle and WARC's Director Catherine during a tour of our brain imaging centre, Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre. Kristelle and Catherine go back a long way and first met about 20 years ago when they both worked as autism researchers in London!

02/06/2026

Exciting news from our very own Dr Ari Dyer:

"Really excited to share that the first paper from my PhD has been published in Neurodiversity!

Sensory rooms are used across UK schools to support autistic pupils but little is known about autistic pupils' experiences of using them, so we asked them!

We interviewed thirteen autistic pupils about their use of sensory rooms in mainstream schools, using an adaptable interview to support different communication needs. We also observed them using the rooms.

Autistic pupils told us that sensory rooms supported their wellbeing, learning, and ability to manage sensory overwhelm. Self-directed use was key, and pupils appreciated adaptable equipment, as they could alter it to meet their context-dependent needs. They also used sensory rooms as a safe environment for broader activities, like hanging out with friends or using an iPad. Through observations, we saw that autistic pupils spent a lot of time relaxing, exploring or avoiding sensory features, and stimming in the sensory rooms.

Overall, our results show that autistic pupils find sensory rooms to benefit their wellbeing, learning, and sensory needs, but that self-direction is key.

This project was a labour of love, and I'm really grateful to everyone involved: Eloise Crossman, Claire Bowsher-Murray, and my supervisors Catherine Jones and Georgie Powell."

The paper can be accessed for free here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27546330261448357

Congratulations Ari from all at WARC! The photo shows Ari presenting at a Cardiff University event during their PhD.

06/05/2026

Please see below for details of another free online event from the Tîm Niwrowahaniaeth Cymru / Wales Neurodivergence Team

Understanding and Supporting Neurodivergent LGBTQ+ Teens - Ian Timbrell, More Than Flags & Rainbows

Tuesday, 16 June 2026, 10:00am - 12:00pm

About the session
Join us for a live, interactive workshop exploring the experiences of neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ teenagers. This session will challenge common misconceptions, build understanding, and share practical ways to support young people across home, school, and professional contexts. It will explore identity, trust, safeguarding, communication with schools, and the specific challenges faced during adolescence and puberty.

About the presenter
Ian Timbrell is the founder and Executive Director of More Than Flags and Rainbows, a social enterprise supporting schools and communities to create more inclusive environments for all children and young people. With 17 years of teaching experience, including 5 years as a Deputy Headteacher, Ian has worked extensively in education and inclusion. He is also the author of the book "It’s More Than Flags and Rainbows” and delivers training, workshops, and consultancy across the UK.

To book your place please use this link:

960c4c60-bbe9-4810-b172-7f82448c51dd@6850a7f1-4cc1-4482-a1c1-79439f679966" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/960c4c60-bbe9-4810-b172-7f82448c51dd@6850a7f1-4cc1-4482-a1c1-79439f679966

30/03/2026

Congratulations to WARC PhD student, Ari Dyer, who passed their PhD exam (viva) last month. This means they are now Dr Ari Dyer! They explored what autistic young people in mainstream secondary schools thought about their school sensory room, producing lots of important insights that we looked forward to sharing soon. They also explored the sensory experiences of mainstream primary school pupils experiencing emotional and behavioural differences in the classroom. Ari is now a lecturer at Cardiff University School of Psychology and we are very pleased to have them still part of WARC! Congratulations Ari on your success! The photo shows Ari after their PhD viva with their PhD supervisors (L-R: Georgie Powell, Ari Dyer, Catherine Jones).