Research Participation Postings

This page lists current research participation opportunities that may be of interest to individuals or families. Participating in research can be rewarding in several ways, such as knowing the study you participate in will help other individuals or families with autism in the future. (If you're a researcher wishing to promote research participation opportunities with Autism Ontario, please visit our Guidelines for Researchers page to learn more.) The text of each posting is presented as it was submitted by the researcher.

Please see the research participation opportunities below. 

Call for Autistic Participants “The Report Card Project”

The Re Storying Autism in Education research team is looking for people who identify as Autistic to participate in an arts-based project on their experiences with educational assessments. 

  • Participants must be 16 years or older to participate
  • If you identify as Autistic you are eligible to participate
  • We encourage non speaking Autistics, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ to participate
  • Participants will be invited to participate in an online exhibit
    • Materials such as a template will be provided
  • You will be asked to recall your experiences with K-12 educational assessments such as report cards or evaluations 

If you are interested in participating or have any questions please contact: 

Dr. Patty Douglas (PI) douglas.patricia@queensu.ca or Haley Clark haley.clark@queensu.ca

This study has received ethical approval by Queen’s University General Research Ethics Board. 

 

poster
Invitation to participate in a research study about Virtual Peer Support for Newly Diagnosed Autistic Women

We are a group of researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) doing a study, titled “Evaluation of a Peer-led Program for and with Autistic Women

We are looking to recruit participants to evaluate the impact of a virtual peer support program on the wellbeing of newly diagnosed autistic women. Participation in this study includes:

  • attending weekly virtual peer support sessions that are 1.5 hours long for 8 weeks, starting on Tuesday March 18 at 6:30pm
  • filling out surveys 3 times during the study period (over 25 weeks) that will take about 45-60 minutes to complete, and
  • participating in a post-program individual interview (60-90 minutes) about your experiences in the program.

Participation is completely voluntary and will not affect any present or future services provided by CAMH. Any information collected for this study will be confidential.

Please find attached a recruitment flyer, which includes information about the study and our contact information. Please share this information with autistic women who have been clinically diagnosed with autism in the past 8 months.

If you would like more information, please contact the CAMH research staff by email AWPeerSupport@camh.ca.

flyer purple and white
Adapted Bingocize Research Study - Whitby

York University, in collaboration with Abilities Centre, invites you and your child to participate in an exciting and innovative research study!

We are evaluating Adapted Bingocize, a unique program that combines bingo with physical activity to promote movement and engagement in autistic children. You and your child will take part in 60-minute sessions, once a week for 6 weeks, enjoying bingo games while incorporating fun physical exercises!

By joining this study, your child will benefit from an active, supportive environment, and your participation will help us evaluate and refine this program for future participants.

 

When: Adapted Bingocize sessions will take place Wednesdays 6:00 to 7:00 pm, starting on January 15th, 2025. 

Who: You are eligible if: 

  • You are the parent or caregiver of an autistic child aged 8-12. 
  • You live in the Greater Toronto Area, 
  • You use English as a primary language of communication. 

Where: Abilities Centre, Studio 1, beside the HUR room 

Sign-Up: If you're interested in learning more about this study or participating, please click here for more information and we will contact you: Adapted Bingocize 

Questions: If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email: sep2017@yorku.ca 

 

Adapted Bingocize Research Study - Flyer

Bingocize Flyer - Whitby
Bilingualism in Neurodiverse Children: Cognitive and Social Language Skills

We are inviting families to participate in a research study titled Bilingualism in Neurodiverse Children: Cognitive and Social Language Skills. This study aims to compare monolingual (children who speak one language) and bilingual (children who speak two languages) autistic children with their non-autistic peers.

Our goal is to explore the similarities and differences in thinking and language skills across these groups and better understand how bilingualism affects children’s cognitive and language development.

Children aged 4 to 8 will engage in fun, child-friendly activities, such as describing pictures, repeating sentences and words, playing sorting games, and answering questions about images. Parents will complete questionnaires about their child’s communication skills and behaviors. Participating families will receive compensation for their time.

We are actively recruiting families across Canada, including Ontario regions, and are reaching out to Indigenous and diverse communities to ensure broad inclusion. The study is online.

Institution Hosting the Research: Dalhousie University
Recruitment Period: Now through mid-February
Contact Information: cliclab@dal.ca

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or if additional information is required.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Best regards,

Stephanie Côté
Consultant for Dalhousie University's Child, Language and Cognition (CLIC) Lab
stephanie.cote@uottawa.ca 

poster Bilingualism in Neurodiverse Children: Cognitive and Social Language Skills

 

L’Université d’Ottawa reconnaît et respecte le fait que son campus se trouve sur le territoire traditionnel non cédé de la nation algonquine. 

The University acknowledges and respects that it stands on unceded Algonquin territory. 

 

 

 

Adapted Bingocize Research Study - Scarborough

York University, in collaboration with Variety Village, invites you and your child to participate in an exciting and innovative research study!

We are evaluating Adapted Bingocize, a unique program that combines bingo with physical activity to promote movement and engagement in autistic children. You and your child will take part in 60-minute sessions, once a week for 6 weeks, enjoying bingo games while incorporating fun physical exercises!

By joining this study, your child will benefit from an active, supportive environment, and your participation will help us evaluate and refine this program for future participants.

 

What: Variety Village is partnering with York University, to test Adapted Bingocize, a fun program combining bingo with exercise to encourage physical activity in autistic children. We are looking for families to participate in Adapted Bingocize sessions and provide feedback through surveys and a focus group! 

When: Adapted Bingocize sessions will take place Thursdays 6:30 to 7:30 pm, starting on January 30th, 2025. 

Who: You are eligible if: 

  • You are the parent or caregiver of an autistic child aged 8-12. 
  • You live in the Greater Toronto Area, 
  • You use English as a primary language of communication. 

Where: Multi-Purpose room at Variety Village 

Sign-Up: If you're interested in learning more about this study or participating, please click here for more information and we will contact you: Adapted Bingocize 

Questions: If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email: sep2017@yorku.ca 

 

Adapted Bingocize Research Study - Flyer

bingo
Transportation Study in the GTA

🚍 Share Your Transit Story! 

Are you an Autistic young adult living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)? We want to hear about your experiences with public transit!

Our research team is conducting a study to explore the transportation barriers and supports Autistic individuals face while navigating the GTA. Your insights can help improve accessibility and inform better transit policies across Ontario.

Details:

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Who can participate?

  • Autistic individuals aged 18–35
  • Residing in the GTA
  • With access to and experience using public transit
  • Have a phone

🎁 What’s in it for you?

  • Receive a $50 gift card per session (up to $150 for completing all 3 sessions).

📸 What’s involved?

  • Participate in interviews and photography sessions to share your transit experiences.

📅 When?

  • Recruitment ends in April. We’re looking for 8–11 more participants!

✉️ Interested?
Contact us at: info@torontotransportautismexperiences.ca

Why this matters:

Your feedback will shape academic articles, policy briefs, and presentations to improve public transit for Autistic adults in Ontario. We’re working with organizations like the TTC, Metrolinx, Autism Alliance, and Mobilizing Justice to make a difference.

This study is approved by OCAD University’s Research Ethics Board (REB #: 2024-01).

research study
poster black and white

 

 

Workplace Inclusion for Autistic Human Service Workers
Study Overview


This study seeks to understand the barriers and facilitators of workplace inclusion and wellbeing for autistic human services workers in Canada and the United States. It is the first large-scale study to examine these topics, thus the results will offer new knowledge and most importantly inform efforts to promote the inclusion of autistic human services workers.

A Note About Language
Aligned with research and community preferences, this study uses identity-first language to describe autism (e.g., autistic person).

 

Who can join the study? Autistic (self-identifying or diagnosed) human services workers who are 18 years of age or older and currently working in Canada or the United States with at least two other colleagues in their organization are invited to join the study.  We are planning to recruit approximately 200 participants for the survey. Because other researchers have explored the experiences of autistic teachers, teachers are excluded from this study.

What’s involved if I join the study?
Should you wish to participate, you will need to complete a brief online form to assess your eligibility to be a part of the study.  Eligible individuals will be emailed a link to the full survey using an email address they provide. Sending the survey this way helps reduce the risk of fraudulent participants. Your email address will be kept confidential.

Once the survey link is sent to you, please complete it within seven days. It should take approximately 30 minutes to complete, although for some, it might take longer. You can start it and complete it later (on the same device within 24 hours), if you wish. 

How was the survey developed?
The survey was designed based on the researcher’s experiences in clinical practice with autistic individuals, relevant literature, and most importantly by consulting with autistic human services workers. Prior to launching the survey, nine autistic human services workers offered in-depth feedback about key survey questions, thus enhancing the appropriateness and relevance of the survey to autistic human services workers.

Is there compensation?
After completing the survey participants can receive a $10 Starbucks electronic gift card. Please note that any responses that are found to be invalid (e.g. dishonest answers) will not be eligible for compensation. Similarly, if you provide incorrect information regarding your eligibility criteria (i.e., age, location of residence) you will not be eligible for compensation. We rely on the authenticity of your experience and answers to ensure the accuracy of our research. If you believe you should still be compensated, you may email the Principal Investigator. Thank you for your honesty and cooperation. If you’re interested in receiving a gift card, you are asked to provide your name and email address at the end of survey.

Is the survey confidential?
Yes, all responses will be kept confidential, including names and email addresses. All data will be reported in aggregated form to protect confidentiality. Names and email addresses will be deleted once the study is completed.

I have accessibility needs, what should I do to join the study?
If you cannot complete the survey online, please contact Sarah Southey at sout1160@mylaurier.ca to arrange a time to complete it verbally with her.

Has the study received ethics approval?
Yes, the study has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at Wilfrid Laurier University (file #8972).

recruiting poster white yellow bg
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Autistic Adults

If you are an autistic adult with treatment-resistant depression, a new research study at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at CAMH in Toronto may offer hope. We are investigating the safety and effectiveness of psilocybin-assisted therapy in a supportive and carefully monitored setting.

This study offers a unique opportunity to:

  1. Participate in a world-first trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy specifically designed for autistic adults.
  2. Contribute to vital research that could improve the lives of autistic individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
  3. Potentially benefit from an innovative treatment approach.

Eligibility:

  • Minimum 18 years old
  • Clinical diagnosis of autism without intellectual disabilities
  • Clinical diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression
  • No personal or first-degree relatives' history of bipolar or psychotic disorders

Participation involves:

  •  Screening, baseline questionnaires & clinical interviews
  • 2 dosing sessions of psilocybin with trained therapists
  • 2 integrative therapy sessions
  • 2 MRI brain scans
  • Follow-up visits

Compensation: Given at the end of the study  Up to 280$, depending on attendance of clinical visits

 

To learn more about eligibility criteria and study details, please contact

Principal Investigator: Dr. Hsiang-Yuan Lin

PAT-DA@camh.ca / Hsiang-Yuan.Lin@camh.ca

416-535-8501 ext. 32817 / 437-422-5532

 

Exploring the Inclusion Experiences of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Secondary Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

What is it?

Looking for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students who are on the Autism Spectrum (aged 16-25), and their caregivers, to participate in a study on inclusion experiences in secondary school communities.

How does it work?

Students:

  • Initial 45-60 min interview
  • 1-2 weeks photo voice activity
  • 30-35 min follow-up interview

Caregivers:

  • 45-60 min interview

 

*You will receive a $25 Chapter-Indigo Book Store gift card.

Who can join:

  • CLD students in Canada aged 16-25.
  • Caregivers of students who are participating in the study.

Why join?

This research focuses on student lead narratives, which are fundamental to informing educational and social practices, and in reforming policies related to the inclusion of CLD students with ASD in secondary school communities.

More information:

For more information, or to volunteer to participate in this study, please contact: Maria Shaikh (PhD Student at Queen’s University). maria.shaikh@queensu.ca

This study has been reviewed for ethical compliance by the Queen’s University General Research Ethics Board.

 

Measuring Flourishing in Autistic Young People

📢 Calling all autistic youth (ages 13-25)! 

Our research team at York University is recruiting autistic youth to participate in an online study about positive well-being (i.e., flourishing) and to test the use of a flourishing questionnaire. 

Who can participate? 

  • Autistic youth between 13 and 25 years of age. 
  • Located in Ontario, Canada. 
  • Have a diagnosis of autism or self-identify as autistic.     

What does participation involve? 

  • Completing a 15-minute online survey about flourishing and autistic traits.
  • For those under 16 years of age, a parent or caregiver will be asked to provide consent for participation and complete the autistic traits questionnaire about the youth. 
  • The survey can be completed alone or with a support person. 

 

No compensation will be provided for this part of the study. However, if you are 16 years of age or older, you will have the chance to sign-up for the interview phase of our study, which will involve a 30-minute online interview. Participants who participate in the interview will receive a $15 e-gift card. 

 

Here is the link to our study sign-up sheet! A member of our research team will then send you the survey directly. https://yorku.questionpro.ca/t/AB3urAcZB3u32R

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach Teresa Sellitto or Dr. Jonathan Weiss at  flourishstudy@yorku.ca

 

volunteers needed
Help us learn more about the ways Autistic children grow and develop

What is the PARC Study?

We are a research team looking to gather information about newly-diagnosed Autistic children and their families. We are asking about child symptoms, skills, functioning and abilities, as well as about their family life. Gathering this data early in life can help us understand developmental outcomes in Autistic children.

What will my participation involve?

We will ask you to complete a set of online questionnaires (taking about 2-3 hours total) repeated every 6 months until study exit (age 6).

Why participate?

The information we collect can help us learn about the strengths and needs of children and families. You will also receive research summary reports to track how your child’s symptoms, skills, and abilities may be changing over time.

For questions, please contact: Melissa Susko, Research Coordinator melissa.susko@queensu.ca