Dr Katy Unwin
Dr Katy Unwin is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Counselling, and Therapy at La Trobe University in Australia. Her research is focused on understanding sensory differences in autism to support autistic flourishing, as well as listening to the broadly 'unheard' voice of limited/minimally verbal autistic people.
After completing her Undergraduate degree in Psychology, Katy then went on to do a Masters in Cognitive Neuroscience and a Doctorate in Psychology. Following this, she was awarded the prestigious ‘Future Leaders Fellowship’ by the Waterloo Foundation, before taking up a research fellowship at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC).
Katy began her Lectureship at La Trobe University in early 2023, continuing to work closely with OTARC. She employs a variety of methods in her work, including basic visual perception paradigms, physiological measurement, micro-behavioural coding, and qualitative methods.
You can contact Dr Katy via email: k.unwin@latrobe.edu.au
Dr Léon van Ommen
Dr Léon Van Ommen is a Senior Lecturer in Liturgical Theology at the University of Aberdeen. His research focuses on autism (with a keen interest in other neurodivergences), worship and liturgy, and disability. Léon co-founded the Centre for Autism and Theology in 2018, and has been the Co-Director of the Centre since 2020.
Working in the area of Practical Theology, Léon is interested in the lived and theological reality of religious practices and spirituality. Much of his work is focused on pastoral needs, especially the needs of marginalised people who are stigmatised and whose voices are not heard.
His recent research has focused on autism and liturgy, resulting in the publication of various articles and two books on autism, theology and church. He has a particular interest in working with non- or minimally-speaking autistic people, as well as Black autistic people and their faith communities.
You can contact Dr Léon via email: leon.vanommen@abdn.ac.uk
Centre for Autism & Theology
Founded in 2018 out of the University of Aberdeen, the Centre for Autism and Theology (CAT) aims to be an international hub for autism and theology research.
The Centre envisions a theological and interdisciplinary discourse around autism that has the potential to contribute to the wider discourse around autism, linked to the religious experience of autism, emphasising the God-given value of those on the autism spectrum.
CAT hosts interdisciplinary research into autism in faith communities, and aims to encourage research of the highest standards. The Centre aspires to actively work together and engage in dialogue with autistic people and faith communities.
This website was created by Madeleine Grace, one of the autistic consultants on this project. Madeleine was diagnosed autistic at the age of 22 and is passionate about seeing autistic and neurodivergent people embraced in the church. She works as an editor for a Christian ministry, and, in her spare time, is involved in writing and other projects to help give a voice to autistic experiences. You can find out more about Madeleine and her work on this episode of the Centre for Autism & Theology's podcast.