Meet our speakers
Our select group of speakers at our September conference are sharing new research, assessment and intervention practices in their countries.
Insights from across the world
Our field is in flux
with different research focuses, and different answers to the question, “What is autism?” At this time of cuts, with question marks hanging over so much provision, new systems coming in, now is the time to hear from our renowned speakers about implementing support in very different landscapes.
Discuss themes and questions
together at our round table at the end of the day. It is really important for us to work together as a community to maintain quality in autism practice.
Speakers:
Dr. Somer Bishop
Dr. Bishop is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Weill Institute for Neurosciences at UCSF (University of California, San Francisco). She is a renowned clinical psychologist with expertise in assessment, diagnosis, and interventions for autistic individuals and an international trainer. She is a co-author of the ADOS-2 and ADOS-3 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2nd &; 3rd Edition).
Her research and clinical interests are focused on autistic presentations across the lifespan and differential diagnosis. She is committed to increasing understanding and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and shares her knowledge and experience globally to achieve this through training as well as research.
Dr. Bishop’s talk is titled:
A History of the ADOS in autism assessment: from Research to Clinical Practice, across Changing Conceptions and Diagnostic Criteria of what Autism is. It is impossible to talk about the ADOS without considering the wider context and fundamental questions about autism as this underpins assessment, interventions and support. The DSM and the ICD criteria have been revised since the ADOS was first introduced, and the ADOS-3 will be published soon. Updates reflect changes in knowledge and understanding based on extensive research, which is ongoing. Dr. Bishop’s talk is timely and highly relevant given the range of different perspectives on autism assessment.
I first met Dr. Bishop in 2021 in San Francisco,
when I did the Advanced ADOS-2 Research Workshop to become research reliable. She is an excellent trainer and an engaging, inspiring speaker, partly because she is so knowledgeable, but also because she can present and explain complex information in an accessible way. She is very collaborative and respectful of everyone that she works with. She is a remarkable person, and we are so pleased that you will have this opportunity to hear her speak, to ask her questions, and to participate in a round table discussion with Dr. Bishop and all our fantastic speakers.
Some of Dr. Bishop’s research:
Self-Reported Strengths and Difficulties by Autistic Adults
DSM-5 Based Algorithms for the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised for Children aged 4-17 years
Professor Petrus de Vries
Petrus de Vries is the Sue Struengmann Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and Director of the Centre for Autism Research in Africa at the University of Cape Town. He trained in Medicine at Stellenbosch University in South Africa before moving to the UK where he completed his clinical training in Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and a PhD in Developmental Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.
He returned to South Africa in 2012. He was Secretary of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) (2019-2021) and Treasurer of the International Association of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) (2018-2022).
Professor de Vries has a clinical research interest
in assessment and intervention for infants, young children and adolescents with complex neurodevelopmental and mental health needs. Since his return to South Africa, he has focused on global child & adolescent mental health and on implementing support in low- and middle-income settings. His talk is titled Supporting autistic children and their families in low-resource contexts – reflections from Africa.
Most research and interventions come from high income countries,
such as America, Europe, UK, and cannot be as easily implemented in low-income countries that are culturally very different and have far fewer resources. Evidence based assessment tools and interventions that are commonly used in the global north, need adapting for use countries like South Africa, which can be a challenge. Professor de Vries and his team’s overarching aim is to ensure “the highest possible quality of life” for all autistic people that live in Africa and their families. This is a goal that many of us have, but achieving it is much more complex and difficult in South Africa.
Some of Professor de Vries’ research:
Adapting an early autism caregiver coaching intervention for telehealth delivery in low-resource settings: A South African study of the ‘what’ and the ‘why’
Empowering families with young autistic children: A participatory approach to design and develop a globally relevant family support programme
Professor Will Mandy
Professor Mandy is a clinically oriented academic, whose research and teaching activity is mostly aimed at helping autistic people live more enjoyable and fulfilling lives. He is a clinical psychologist and professor of Neurodevelopmental Conditions at UCL (University College, London).
His work aims to improve the recognition of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and to develop new interventions to help people with ASC. He has a particular research interest in improving the identification and care of autistic females, who are currently at high risk of going unnoticed and unhelped by clinical and educational services.
Dr Laura Hull
Dr Hull’s background is in psychology research, with a particular interest in clinically relevant research to support autistic people. Like Professor Mandy, she is a clinically orientated academic. Her PhD, at University College London, was focused on camouflaging or masking in autism, aiming to understand and measure the ways in which autistic people feel pressured to hide or compensate for their autistic traits. She has also been involved in research aiming to improve the ways that we diagnose autism in adulthood.
Dr Hull joined the University of Bristol in 2021 to complete a fellowship identifying factors that predict poor mental health outcomes in autistic young people. Her current role is as Prudence Trust Research Fellow, exploring the relationship between masking and mental health in neurodivergent young people. She developed the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) based on autistic adults’ experiences of camouflaging and has developed a questionnaire for younger autistic individuals.
Professor Mandy and Dr Hull often collaborate
and have worked together on numerous research projects. Their talk is titled Assessing Autism in Women. They have carried out extensive research on assessing autistic women, camouflaging, internalising experiences, bias, mis – and underdiagnosing, and they have related their findings to clinical practice. They are both interested in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, which is one of the reasons why we invited them to speak at the conference.
Their talk is highly relevant.
Autism assessment is changing due to cuts to funding, and the pressure of long waiting lists. Concerns have been expressed that autism is over-diagnosed, and assessment is becoming a divided topic. Research is also divided on topics such as gender differences in autism, camouflaging and what autism is.
Some of Professor Mandy & Dr Hull’s research:
“I want to fit in…but I don’t want to change myself fundamentally”: A qualitative exploration of the relationship between masking and mental health for autistic teenagers.”
Improving Diagnostic Procedures in Autism for Girls and Women: A Narrative Review
Dr. Stephen Kanne
Dr. Steve Kanne is a Clinical Professor of Psychology at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment and serves as the Director of Special Projects. Previously, he served as the Director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at Weill Cornell Medical College, and the Executive Director of the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Dr. Kanne earned both his bachelor’s degree and doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Washington University. He completed a clinical internship at the University of California, San Diego, and pursued a post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
His early career included five years as a pediatric neuropsychologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, followed by four years at the University of Missouri focusing on autism and pediatric neuropsychology. He later became Director of the Autism Center at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital before returning to the University of Missouri in 2012 to lead the Thompson Center. In 2020, he transitioned to Weill Cornell.
Dr. Kanne’s research interests center on autism, emphasizing diagnostic tools, behavioral phenotyping, co-occurring symptoms, special interests, subthreshold symptoms, and evidence-based therapies. He has published extensively in these areas, as well as in cognitive neuropsychology, the history of neuropsychology, and pediatric traumatic brain injury. Board-certified in Clinical N Neuropsychology, Dr. Kanne is passionate about education and training, frequently delivering national and international workshops on autism.
Dr. Kourtney Nigh
Dr. Nigh is a clinical researcher at the University of Kansas’s Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART) &; Life Span Institute. Dr. Nigh received her doctorate from the University of California-Los Angeles under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Lord, where she assisted in the development of the Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA) and Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC).
Before returning to graduate school, Dr. Nigh had a background in special education and worked at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at the University of Missouri-Columbia. There, she co-founded theGlobal Autism Interactive Network (GAIN) and brought together a talented group of ADOS-2 trainers to share their expertise in autism diagnostics.
Dr. Nigh has over 15 years of experience conducting ASD evaluations and training across the world. Dr. Nigh’s research interests include the early identification of autism through phenotyping and the creation of meaningful assessment models for clinicians and families.
Drs. Kanne & Nigh’s talk is titled
From Concern to Clarity: Best Practices in Autism Diagnosis—Insights from the U.S.America has a very different healthcare and support system to the UK, which will be fascinating to learn about. They do not have an equivalent of the NHS, and states have different healthcare regulations and provision. Increased prevalence rates have been linked to vaccines and certain medications by the US health secretary. It is a difficult landscape for neurodivergent people and professionals to navigate currently.
They are incredibly knowledgeable
and, like all of the American trainers I have met, they are both very generous with their knowledge and experience. Over the years, I have asked them both a lot of questions about autism, assessment, mental health – all things neurodivergent. Even though some of my questions were quite hard, they have always been able to answer them. I am still trying to find a question that they can’t answer! They spoke about GAIN for our network (MDPN) last year, which was very well received, and we are so pleased that they are speakers at our conference.
Some of Dr. Kanne’s research:
Comparative Analysis of Autistic Women Across the Lifespan: Childhood vs. Adulthood Diagnosis
DSM-5 Based Algorithms for the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised for Children ages 4-17
Dr Marion Rutherford
Dr Marion Rutherford (BSc (Hons), PGCert, PGDip, MRCSLT) is a speech and language therapist, like Ruth and I, and her inner clinician shines through her academic work. She is a Senior Research Fellow, co-lead of the National Autism Implementation Team Research Programme in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Division and a full member of the Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language Research Centre.
She is a member of the Scottish Consortium, the National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT), and the Neuro-affirming Community of Practice in Scotland, launched in 2023 “to embed inclusive, reflective practices across sectors supporting neurodivergent people. This initiative responds to the need for systemic change in how professionals understand and support autistic and neurodivergent individuals.” Her research is grounded in achieving this goal.
Marion has written about
re-thinking autism assessment, diagnosis and intervention in line with the autism paradigm, i.e., with a focus on difference not deficit, and following a neurodevelopmental, rather than a single condition, pathway as research highlights common overlap of different forms of neurodivergence. Marion’s work highlights the importance of environment, and she is a strong advocate for including autistic voices in her research. She was involved in writing a fantastic guide to Neuro-Affirming Reports, which is very practical and extremely helpful. We are huge fans of her work, and we are really looking forward to hearing her talk.
Her talk is titled
The neuro-affirming community of practice in Scotland. It will be fascinating to hear about how they work in Scotland, the influence and impact of the neuro-affirming community of practice. They have an innovative approach to training ADOS, linked to the NHS and it produces high quality ADOS-2 clinicians. It also provides a role for very experienced ADOS-2 clinicians, and recognition for their knowledge, skill and experience. We are very excited about Marion’s talk.
Some of Dr Rutherford’s research:
Learning from the Experiences of Autistic Professionals Working in Health and Education
Are we getting better at identifying and diagnosing neurodivergent girls and women?
About the MDPN
For everyone working in identification and support of neurodivergent individuals
The aim of this network is to be for all professionals working in identification and support of neurodivergent individuals, with a main focus on autism. It is to bring together lived experience, clinical work and research, so that all the amazing work happening nationally and internationally can be shared and implemented.
Lucy Sanctuary
Co-founder of MDPN
ADOS-2 Trainer
Highly Specialist SLT
Autism adapted CBT practitioner
Ruth Fine
Co-Founder of MDPN
ADOS-2 Trainer
Highly Specialist SLT
Clinical tutor
