Congratulations to Imogen Sloss who has been named one of this year's Autism Scholars Award recipients by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU). Sloss is a master’s student in Clinical Psychology (School of Psychology) and a member of the FamilyPsycle Lab directed to Dr. Dillon Browne.
With social media playing an increasingly influential role in how caregivers learn about autism, Sloss’ research examines the characteristics, messaging, and quality of the advice being shared online.
Sloss will analyze 200 autism-related TikTok videos containing emotional, social and educational recommendations to understand the type of advice being shared with caregivers. She will assess whether recommendations are supported by research, provide enough context and offer practical guidance.
By providing a clearer picture of the autism-related advice circulating on social media, Sloss’ research could help families make more informed decisions about the guidance they follow. It could also equip professionals with a better understanding of common misinformation and help caregivers identify approaches that reflect their child’s unique circumstances, needs and goals.
Established with support from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the Autism Scholars Awards Program helps ensure Ontario remains a leader in autism research and innovation. Recipients of this year’s master’s-level Autism Scholars Awards are awarded funding valued at $18,000 each.
Congratulations Imogen!