Lydia

Hi everyone, I am still looking for people to interview (Skype or online text chat messaging) as I am seeking your insight (as part of my masters research) about your past educational experience and how we can make education a more positive experience for children with HFA. If you have HFA /Aspergers yourself I would really value your input! My email address is lydiabeeuk@yahoo.co.uk. The project has full ethical approval through the university of Nottingham. Many thanks! Lydia

Hi everyone, In regard to my previous post, I would still really love to hear from you regarding a research online interview (or online text chat) if you have past experience in the UK education system as someone with Aspergers. Would be great to hear of your experiences and ideas! lydiabeeuk@yahoo.co.uk Many thanks Lydia

Hi there, My name is Lydia and I would like to know if you would be interested to take part in a research project involving those with High Functioning Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome that I am undertaking as a postgraduate student through the University of Nottingham. Reason for the research I am keen to research and publish a paper on the experiences of people with AS at primary and secondary school. There is not much research out there that listens to the views and stories of people with AS themselves. This is unfortunate and my aim is to highlight (through themes that come up from your responses) areas of the school system that have been troublesome, any that were good, and highlight areas that need to change. I am also keen to explore whether you feel that identification in childhood would have been beneficial to your experience at school and for those of you who were identified as a child (if any?) your experiences of education as a result. I am also interested in your thoughts on any experience you have had with the ‘Special Educational needs’ system whilst at school. What it would involve The research will be carried out though the University of Nottingham, as part of my Master's program, and has full ethical approval. The research would involve an interview over the internet with myself that would last approximately 45 minutes. This would take place either by live chat (non-video instant text messaging) or a videocall (e.g. skype), whatever you are more comfortable with. I would send you a copy of the questions in advance, including an information sheet and a consent form. You would be free to withdraw from the research at any time (no obligations) and your contribution will remain anonymous. The interview would be 'semi-structured', meaning that there is room for you to add personal views and opinions about additional areas that the questions may not cover. Why research? Research helps to inform practice - at least eventually. Research also potentially inspires other and more larger scale research. It is therefore a potential force for change. I think that this is a valuable project to be a part of, in that it aims to listen to the views and experiences of people with Asperger’s Syndrome who have been in the education system before, in the hope that we can make things better in school for children with Asperger’s in the future. If you would like to take part in this research or have any questions please email me at lydiabeeuk@yahoo.co.uk Kind regards, Lydia MacDonald

Hi there, My name is Lydia and I would like to know if you would be interested to take part in a research project involving those with High Functioning Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome that I am undertaking as a postgraduate student through the University of Nottingham. Reason for the research I am keen to research and publish a paper on the experiences of people with AS at primary and secondary school. There is not much research out there that listens to the views and stories of people with AS themselves. This is unfortunate and my aim is to highlight (through themes that come up from your responses) areas of the school system that have been troublesome, any that were good, and highlight areas that need to change. I am also keen to explore whether you feel that identification in childhood would have been beneficial to your experience at school and for those of you who were identified as a child (if any?) your experiences of education as a result. I am also interested in your thoughts on any experience you have had with the ‘Special Educational needs’ system whilst at school. What it would involve The research will be carried out though the University of Nottingham, as part of my Master's program, and has full ethical approval. The research would involve an interview over the internet with myself that would last approximately 45 minutes. This would take place either by live chat (non-video instant text messaging) or a videocall (e.g. skype), whatever you are more comfortable with. I would send you a copy of the questions in advance, including an information sheet and a consent form. You would be free to withdraw from the research at any time (no obligations) and your contribution will remain anonymous. The interview would be 'semi-structured', meaning that there is room for you to add personal views and opinions about additional areas that the questions may not cover. Why research? Research helps to inform practice - at least eventually. Research also potentially inspires other and more larger scale research. It is therefore a potential force for change. I think that this is a valuable project to be a part of, in that it aims to listen to the views and experiences of people with Asperger’s Syndrome who have been in the education system before, in the hope that we can make things better in school for children with Asperger’s in the future. If you would like to take part in this research or have any questions please email me at lydiabeeuk@yahoo.co.uk Kind regards, Lydia MacDonald

NB to moderators: please contact if there is any issue with posting this - have tried messaging you but you must be away at the moment. Thanks Hi everyone, I am looking for people with Asperger's to interview via Skype (or other video/audio medium) for a research project I hope to publish about school experiences, looking really at how the school system could be made better for those with Asperger's. Would love to hear from you if interested - particularly if from the UK and started school after 1981 - though not exclusively so please be in touch Rationale I am keen to research and publish a paper on the experiences of people with Asperger's as they travelled through education. There is not much research out there that listens to the voice of people with Apserger's themselves. This is a mistake and my aim is to highlight (through themes that come up from your responses) areas of the current school system that are troublesome, any that are good, and highlight areas that need to change. I am also keen to explore whether you felt identification in childhood would have been beneficial to your experience at school and for those of you who were identified as a child (if any?) your experiences of education as a result. The SEN system, introduced in 1981, I argue is not specific enough to needs and there seems very little provision for (or understanding of) children with more 'hidden' differences such as Aspergers , ADHD etc. I am therefore particularly interested in those of you who went to school after 1981. In short the aim of the research is to look at -the impact of having Asperger's at school and in adult life -whether the current SEN approach of support and identification is working for Aspies What would it involve? The research will be carried out though the University of Nottingham, as part of my Master's program, and will have full ethical approval. The research would involve a Skype interview with myself (lasting approx. 45 min. I would send you a copy of the questions in advance, including an information sheet and a consent form. You would be free to pull out at any time (no obligations) and your contribution will remain anonymous.The interview would be 'semi-structured', meaning that there is room for you to add personal views and opinions about additional areas that the questions may not cover. Why research? Research helps to inform practice - at least eventually. Research also potentially inspires other and more large scale research . It is therefore a potential force for change. I feel that this is a valuable project to be a part of, in that it aims to listen to the voice and experiences of people who have travelled education before, in the hope that we can make things better for children who will in the future. Any questions just ask on this forum or email me at lydiabeeuk@yahoo.co.uk Regards Lydia