Research Opportunity

My name is Sharon Belshaw and I'm studying my Doctorate in Psychological Trauma at University of Chester. I also work as a therapist and CEO Clinical for a specialist sexual abuse agency in Scotland.

I'm looking for people who would like to be a research participant in my study "What are Autistic people's experiences of reporting sexual abuse/assault. A Poetic Inquiry".

if you are interested, Please see the aims and objectives below and other relevant information and how to contact me

Name of study:

What are autistic people’s experience of reporting sexual abuse/assault. A Poetic Inquiry.

Description of research:

The project will involve adults who either have a diagnosis of autism or self-diagnose as autistic who have experienced a sexual assault and/or abuse and have reported this to the police. The investigation shall have been concluded prior to being a research participant to avoid any part of the research being involved with an investigation that is ongoing. This study would capture the experiences using poetic inquiry of the reporting to police, if they went to a forensic or SARC centre, any dealings with the court and support received such as counselling or ISVA support. As this is a poetic inquiry, hearing the voices of the participants through this methodology will give an emotive but meaningful study. Following the transcripts and using found poetry from the transcripts, there will be an audio recording of the poems which will add actual voices of actors to this study and the creativity shall hopefully enhance the dissemination as being impactful.

What is the purpose of the research?

The current research highlights that autistic individuals are at a higher risk of being sexually victimised.(Gotby et al, 2018; Sanderson (2015) report from those who have experienced sexual abuse/assault and Cage et al. (2024) research from autistic individuals all indicate that the lived experience of those who are autistic and those who have been sexually abused are required to make change possible. The BACP research Conference theme 2024 was also around the lived experience and how this can improve services and policies meaning that others can hopefully access what the need. As there is a current gap in the literature of both autistic people and those who have experienced sexual abuse/assault this research would fill the gap by combining this.

What is the method of the research?

Poetic Inquiry

Who will conduct the research?

Myself

What personal data will be collected?

Names will be assigned pseudonym, participants experiences of reporting

How will that personal data be stored and how long for?

10 years in line with Chester University policy.

How will members participate in the research?

(include survey links here)

Please feel free to email me on 2201205@chester .ac.uk