I am in my third year at the University of Westminster, pursuing a Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience degree. I am passionate about using participatory research to improve support for autistic individuals. I am excited to contribute to the Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE) during my 2024/25 academic year placement.
My personal connection to neurodiversity, being Somali, and my own experiences with ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and a pending autism diagnosis fuel my dedication to culturally sensitive autism research. I am particularly interested in how stigma within communities can impact access to diagnoses and support. This aligns with CRAE’s mission to engage diverse populations in autism research.
I have a strong interest in computational neuroscience and its connection to autism. I am fascinated by its focus on modelling intricate biological processes, such as neural activity and synaptic connections, and how these processes are related to broader topics like memory, particularly in autistic individuals. This interest has driven me to start learning coding and mathematical concepts to deepen my understanding of computational models in neuroscience. I am also eager to explore the use of somatic therapies, mindfulness, and the mind-body connection in trauma and their potential impact on memory in autistic individuals, especially concerning challenges with scene construction and self-projection. Furthermore, I am curious about how mindfulness can support the mental health of autistic individuals, particularly women, and how camouflaging behaviours influence their identity and well-being.
I am also interested in using my previous experience in social media to help increase autism outreach. I want to make research and resources more accessible to a broader audience. Outside of academia, I enjoy reading manhwa :3