UW LINK is a multiyear, collaborative project studying co-occurring ADHD and autism in kids through collecting neuroimaging, genetic, behavioral, and cognitive data. Our findings will better inform early diagnosis and intervention, helping to connect families with the supports that will benefit kids as soon as possible.
We are continually working to create a supportive and neurodiversity-affirming research experience for everyone connected to this project. While our work takes more of a biomedical lens, we recognize the importance of the social model of disability. Specifically, we acknowledge that the ways we (as individuals, cultures, and institutions) view and react to human differences impact opportunities, experiences, and health. Our exploration of how, when, and whether ADHD features develop in autistic children and what those experiences might be like is based on our desire to make sure that autistic individuals have the supports they want or need to thrive. We hope that this knowledge will lead to a society that understands and centers the unique perspectives and experiences that neurodivergence brings.