Autism, Ageing, and Health and Social Care Technologies

Scottish Autism is working in collaboration with Northumbria and Heriot-Watt Universities on a project exploring how technology can support autistic people to access health care as they grow older. While digital tools are increasingly used across health and care settings, autistic adults, particularly older people and those with learning disabilities, are rarely involved in shaping how these technologies are developed or introduced. This project focuses on understanding what kinds of technology feel meaningful and genuinely helpful from their perspective.

Co-production sits at the heart of the project. A co-production panel of autistic people with and without learning disabilities is working alongside health and social care practitioners and researchers to explore a range of technologies that may help people prepare for, navigate and engage with health care. Through practical demonstrations and collaborative workshops, panel members will share their experiences, priorities and concerns, helping to identify opportunities and challenges for using technology in social care practice. The project will also create accessible resources to support shared understanding and informed consent, helping ensure technologies are introduced in ways that are respectful, transparent and grounded in lived experience.

The project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

We welcome autistic people, health and social care professionals, and organisations to connect with us. To learn more, ask questions, or share your perspectives, please contact the Researcher in Residence at daniel.mayoljimenez@scottishautism.org.