Participate in Autism Research
Ongoing Autism Research – Volunteers Needed
Below is a listing of university affiliated research projects which autistic individuals, parents, and community professionals may be interested in exploring.
Researchers are invited to submit your research project using this online form. Submission may take up to one week to post.
Please read your submission carefully, and check for spelling or other errors. ACT does not edit postings.
ACT reserves the right to request ethics approval for projects and not to post projects submitted.
Aging and Autism
Project end date: December 31, 2026
Researchers at Hollandview Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation are looking for adults, aged 40 years and older, who have an ASD diagnosis, with normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing, to participate in a study on aging. The purpose of this study is to understand how aging happens to develop... Read More
Bilingualism in neurodiverse children: Cognitive and social language skills
Project end date: December 31, 2026
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 bilingual (children who speak two languages) autistic children with their non-autistic peers. Our goal is to explore the... Read More
Invitation for sharing your experiences about chronic/acute pain in ASD (parents of children as well as adults with ASD)
Project end date: June 30, 2026
We are researchers at Dalhousie University. We are conducting a project investigating experiences of pain perception and expression to better support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this project is to uncover factors and experiences of chronic or acute pain from the... Read More
ToothFairy_The relation of primary teeth and mental health conditions
Project end date: November 30, 2028
We are clinicians and researchers in the fields of dentistry and mental health across Canada including Dal/IWK/UoT. We are conducting a research project, called ToothFairy, which is approved by ethics Board. Parents are eligible to participate in this study if their child is: aged 5-17 years old,... Read More
Feel Comfortable Being Authentically You! TUNE IN: Training to Understand and Navigate Emotions and Interactions
Project end date: December 31, 2026
TUNE In is a 13 week program helping autistic adults interact with other people with greater ease, understanding, and authenticity. Who is eligible? You may be eligible to participate in this study if you are: Aged 18 years or older Have a diagnosis of ASD from a psychologist, psychiatrist,... Read More
The relation of primary teeth and mental health conditions: Leveraging Tooth Fairy.
Project end date: July 1, 2027
This study, titled “The relation of primary teeth and mental health conditions: Leveraging Tooth Fairy,” investigates the relationship between children’s mental health and oral health. Led by Dr. Parisa Ghanouni (Dalhousie University) in collaboration with partners at IWK Health, the... Read More
Brain and Reading Enhancement in Autism Spectrum Disorder (BrainREAD)
Project end date: August 1, 2026
This National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded project tests the efficacy of a rigorous reading intervention on reading comprehension and brain responses in autistic and non-autistic children with comprehension difficulties. Participants will receive an intervention, Visualizing and Verbalizing... Read More
Help us improve mental health supports for neurodivergent family caregivers
Project end date: December 1, 2026
What is this study about? Researchers at the University of Calgary want to understand how to adapt mental health supports for neurodivergent family caregivers of people with neurodevelopmental conditions. Who can participate? You are eligible to participate if you: identify as... Read More
Autistic Adults Sought for Online Survey on Mental Health Experiences, Self-Compassion, and Self-Stigma
Project end date: August 1, 2026
The Autism Research Lab at the University of New Brunswick is seeking help recruiting adults (19 and older) who either have a formal diagnosis of autism OR personally identify as autistic for participation in an online survey looking at self-compassion, mental health, self-stigma, and attitudes... Read More
Research Participants Needed: Autistic Adolescents and Families
Project end date: December 31, 2026
The SMART Lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is currently recruiting participants for two doctoral research studies focused on the mental health, identity, and family experiences of autistic adolescents and their parents. These studies aim to better understand the lived experiences of... Read More
Visualizing Chronic Pain Perception in Autistic Adolescents Through Digital Health Data
Project end date: August 31, 2026
Researchers from the Boerner lab at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of British Columbia are conducting a study to learn more about how an online website can help autistic youth track their pain and daily experiences. The researchers are also looking at how... Read More
Parent-Reported Screen Time in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Project end date: August 1, 2026
Children today spend a large part of their daily lives using screens such as tablets, phones, televisions and video games. While moderate screen use can sometimes be beneficial, research shows that too much screen time may be linked to emotional and behaviour problems in children. These concerns... Read More
Navigating, negotiating and creating access: an exploration of autistic access in university
Project end date: June 30, 2026
What is the goal of the research? To explore the experiences of access and accommodations of autistic students/students with autism at Canadian universities. This research will be used to improve access and better represent autistic voices in the development of student supports. Who can take... Read More
Self-concept: A potential link between mental health stigma and university-work trajectories in emerging adults
Project end date: March 1, 2027
This study aims to understand how mental health stigma and self-concept relate to academic adjustment, future career thinking, and overall well-being in emerging adults. The ultimate goal is to inform future research and programs that support students’ transition into adulthood. Eligible... Read More
Family–School Collaboration in Supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children with Disabilities in Canada
Project end date: April 30, 2027
We invite parents and caregivers of Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing children with disabilities to take part in this study. The goal of this research is to better understand how families work with schools to access support and educational services for their child, including how families communicate with... Read More