The research is led by Professor Sarah Parsons, in Education, and Professor Hanna Kovshoff, in Psychology, as part of the Autism Community Research Network@Southampton (ACoRNS).
Reaching the ‘hard to reach’
For children and young people who may not communicate in typical ways, accessing their voices and contributing their views may not be straightforward. Previous research has shown that their voices are often overlooked or excluded because they can be considered ‘too hard to reach’.
Frequently, reports focus on what these young people cannot do, not what they can do, ignoring their strengths and personalities. ACoRNS’ approach seeks to change the way autistic children are represented by placing their voices front and centre, offering a vivid, personal glimpse into who they really are.
The research was inspired by a simple yet powerful question from the Manager of Eastleigh’s Aviary Nursery Kathryn Ivil: “How can we ensure we are accessing and including the voices of young autistic children in supporting their transition to primary school?”
This inspired the research team to explore how to better understand children who communicate in non-traditional ways. They wanted to challenge existing approaches and enable the voices of children with special educational needs and disabilities to be heard.
The team worked closely with five autistic boys, using video cameras and Wearcams to capture their interactions, vocalisations and responses to their surroundings.
They crafted these clips into three- to five-minute ‘I am’ Digital Stories that provided a rich window into each child’s world. They celebrated what made each child unique by showing their strengths, preferences and personalities in ways that words alone could not do.
By bringing each child’s story to life through music, visuals, and narrative, this approach is doing more than simply ticking boxes. It is transforming how we understand, support, and celebrate autistic children.
Empowering families by giving their children a voice
The impact of the ‘I Am’ Digital Stories has empowered families. Parents have described the stories as revelations, offering fresh insights into their children that they had not seen before.
They made them feel more confident and involved in their children’s transition processes, with a clearer understanding of their needs and strengths.
Professionals say watching the stories has moved them to rethink their approach to supporting autistic children. They say they are not just better informed but are more attuned to tailoring their methods in ways that build on each child’s individual potential.
The ‘I am’ Digital Stories are also shifting the tone of conversations around these children. Meetings that once focused on challenges are now filled with discussions of strengths, creating a more positive, empowering atmosphere for everyone involved.
Economic and Social Research Council funding has enabled the ‘I am’ Digital Stories framework to be expanded to include children and young people of various ages and needs across different transitions.
More settings are adopting the ‘I Am’ Digital Stories methodology, embedding it into their everyday practices to ensure that no child’s voice goes unheard.
The ‘I am’ Digital Stories really demonstrate the strengths, skills and uniqueness of each child and their families. It’s such a simple idea, but one that I hope will have a huge impact. I am in the privileged position of reading many children’s profiles. After watching your ‘I am’ Digital Stories, I realise what is often missing, you’ve managed to capture in just a few minutes, through music and visuals, what can’t easily be conveyed in words. I wish every family had the opportunity to do this for their child or young person!
A Carer
