Through silence and symphony: Exploring sensory experiences, accumulative trauma, adaptive strategies, and sensory wellbeing and joy of Autistic people

This project, funded by a Macquarie University Lighthouse Fellowship, is the first major study that holistically explores Autistic sensory experiences, its cumulative impacts, adaptive strategies, and pathways to enhancing sensory wellbeing.Using an inter-disciplinary approach and community involvement, I will develop a Strategic Sensory Model capturing the full trajectory of sensory experience - from accumulative sensory trauma to thriving, with deep insights into how Autistic people experience sensory regulation, joy and self-expression.

A key outcome is the Sensory Wellbeing Toolkit, which equips Autistic people with proactive, Autistic-identified strategies to manage sensory distress at various stages, break trauma cycles, support sensory self-expression and joy, and enhance sensory wellbeing.