Postgraduate Researcher
Current Status
Full-time
Research Topic
Working with autistic people, to explore their sensory and social spatial experiences, to create criteria for the design of space that is better for everyone.
Research Summary
My research involves working with a wide range of autistic people as co-researchers. The research has two strands one is to find an accessible, appropriate research method and the other to understand people’s experience of space. Traditional, hierarchical research methods, where autistic people have been tested and observed are very limited when trying to understand subjective experience. So my work has been to challenge this hierarchy, including the culturally derived institutional disablism that is inherent in all of us. This process has created a new and broader understanding of the issues autistic people face in using space. This goes beyond the effect of physical space on the senses, to look at the effects of impaired memory, motor and emotional processing.
Research Interests
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Autism
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Autism and space
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Accessibility
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Indoor and outdoor design
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Critical methods
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Critical Pedagogy
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Feminist research
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Disability Research
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Ethnodrama
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Autoethnography
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Poetry as a research tool
Research Supervisor
Professor Gary Thomas
External advisors
Dr. Dorit Ben Shalom, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience Ben Gurion University
Lynn Plimley, Head of Research and Partnerships at Autism Cymru Autism Cymru
Funding
ESRC
Membership of Research and Professional Organisations
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Landscape Institute
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Environmental Design Research Association
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LondonARM (London Autistic Rights Movement)
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Trustee DANDA (Developmental Adult Neurodiversity Association)
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Autscape
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Autreat
Conferences
Ben Shalom, D. and S. Clemerson (2011) The four domains and spatial design. Wales 4th International Conference: Developments in Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Impact Cardiff City Hall.
Presentation of statement from LondonARM CRPD (2010). Day of General Discussion on “Accessibility”. Committee On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities,. U. Nations. Geneva, 7 October.
Clemerson, S. (2010). Getting to the heart of the matter; positionality, autoethnography, poetry and ethnodrama, recognising difference in the research process. Research Student Conference 2010 University of Birmingham.
Clemerson, S. (2010). Half day intensive. Using design research to get marginalised groups to the policy makers table. EDRA41 Policy and the environment. Proceedings of the 41st annual conference of the Environmental Design Research Association Washington.
Clemerson, S. (2010). Using the hyphen to negotiate the research relationship in user-led focus groups with people on the autistic spectrum to create inclusive dialogue for the design of indoor and outdoor space Sixth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
Clemerson, S. (2009). The potential of user-led research in articulating and meeting the sensory requirements of those on the autistic spectrum in relation to inclusive spatial design. Fifth International Congress of Qualitative Enquiry. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Left Coast press.
Clemerson, S. (2009) Working with autistics: issues in developing a research design that is transparent, inclusive and rigorous EDRA40. The ethical design of places Proceedings of the 40st annual conference of the Environmental Design Research Association Washington
Ben Shalom, D. and S. Clemerson (2008) Neuropsychology and the environment: Establishing the right to be neuro-diverse other sensing and the creation of criteria for neuro-accessibility workshop. EDRA39. Proceedings of the 39th annual conference of the Environmental Design Research Association. EDRA39: Linking Differences / Defining Actions, Veracruz, Mexico, The Environmental Design Research Association.