From diagnosis to dignity: Join us as we explore how autism research is shifting focus — centering the real-life experiences of autistic people, breaking down barriers in healthcare, and building a future rooted in empathy, inclusion, and understanding. Dr. Yona Lunsky is an adjunct scientist at ICES and Scientific Director of the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre and Director of the Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities Program (H-CARDD) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Dr. Lunsky has focused her research on the mental health needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. She studies psychosocial risk factors for psychiatric disorders and health service utilization patterns in this population.Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai is a senior scientist and staff psychiatrist at CAMH. He is also an associate professor and co-chair of the Advisory Council for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity and Accessibility in Clinical Care in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Lai’s research focuses on understanding and improving the mental health and wellbeing of autistic and other neurodivergent individuals, across sexes and genders, as well as their families. His research particularly concerns the experiences of female and gender-diverse autistic people and the relations between neurodivergence, sex differentiation, gender socialization, and mental health.Read the research from Dr. Yona Lunsky and Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai:  Hospital use among autistic adults in CanadaSelf-harm events and suicide deaths among autistic individuals in Ontario, CanadaAzrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at CAMH  Resources:  Autistic SPACE: a novel framework for meeting the needs of autistic people in healthcare settings | British Journal of Hospital Medicine  CAMH Resources: Autism and Mental Health 
EPISODE CREDITS:Produced, edited and mixed by Will Mcintyre, Richard Villeneuve and Pop Up PodcastingArtwork designed by Stella-Luna HaMusic licensed through Melodie MusicLINKS:Be sure to follow and tag ICES on Bluesky, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. To find out more about our organization, visit us at ices.on.ca

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