Irish Mensa Lecture & Discussion: Changes in the Concept of Autism

Our understanding of autism has changed over the last forty years. Historically, autism was diagnosed based on narrow criteria. 'Autisms' are now more often discussed as neurodivergence rather than a single 'disorder' to be treated.



While still defined by social and communication difficulties, rigid interests and repetitive behaviours, the autism spectrum is far wider, and the historical under-diagnosis of women and girls is being addressed.

This lecture explores how our understanding of autism has changed, and directions for future research.



Our Speaker:

Dr. Francesca Happé is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London. Her research focuses on autism. She has explored social cognition and 'mentalising' difficulties. She is also actively engaged in studies of abilities and assets in autism, and their relation to detail-focused cognitive style. Some of her recent work focuses on mental health on the autism spectrum, and under-researched groups including women and the elderly.



She is a Fellow of the British Academy and the Academy of Medical Sciences, a past-President of the International Society for Autism Research, and has received the British Psychological Society Spearman Medal and President's Award, Experimental Psychology Society Prize, and Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award. She is co-author/editor of two recent books - Autism: A New Introduction to Psychological Theory and Debate (with Sue Fletcher-Watson), and Girls and Autism: Educational, Family and Personal Perspectives (with Barry Carpenter and Jo Egerton). In 2021 she was awarded a CBE for her services to the study of autism.



This is a FREE virtual event, with no need to register in advance. Just click on the Zoom link when it is time to join the meeting.



Join Zoom Meeting

https://tinyurl.com/mmhcfh35



Meeting ID: 890 7621 4587

Passcode: 850078



The lecture will take place at 7pm Irish time. Consider using WorldTimeBuddy for your local equivalent: https://tinyurl.com/mr4x6ub2

For more information, contact Mary Reilly(mary@craftcottage.ie)