Calling Autistic Adults to Join Community Council on Participatory Study on Social Loneliness in Autistic Young Adults

[Ava Gurba]

Hello everyone,

I am excited to share a new opportunity our team at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute has. We have a newly funded 5-year community-based participatory research (CBPR) project looking at loneliness experiences and life transitions in autistic young adults. As this project is getting up and running, we are looking for autistic adults (between the ages of 18 to 35) who would like to serve as Community Council members. 

Community Council members will be equal partners with academic team members and have a say in key research decisions. 

Please see the attached flyer and the information below for more information. Please feel free to share the information and flyer with anyone you know who may be interested or knows autistic adults who may be interested. 

The Social Experiences of Loneliness of Autistic Adults (SELA) Project is a new project being conducted at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. Our neurodiverse study team (led by Dr. Wei Song) is assembling a Community Council of autistic adults (ages 18 to 35), in the United States, to work closely with the rest of our team throughout this 5-year research study.  

What is the SELA Project?  

The SELA project is a 5-year study focused on understanding how loneliness and social isolation develop and change for autistic young adults, especially during major life transitions such as starting a job, entering college, or losing services. We plan to follow autistic young adults to learn how these changes affect loneliness and well-being, and what factors help reduce or worsen loneliness. We will evaluate these changes and factors using both quantitative and qualitative research.  

This project utilizes a Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, where autistic adults will partner with researchers over the course of the entire study.  

What is the SELA Community Council? 

The Community Council will include 8–10 autistic adults from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Members will serve as equal partners in the research process, working alongside researchers from start to finish. Community Council members will be involved in a variety of research activities. These include, but are not limited to, improving research materials, advising on how to best invite and involve autistic adults in this study, and guiding how we understand study findings and how we share them with others. Community Council members will have a say in many important decisions on the project. 

You will be paid for your time and effort on the project. No research experience is needed; your own experiences are what matter most! 

 

Who is a good fit for the SELA Community Council? 

 

You would be a good fit if:  

 

• You are autistic or have an autism diagnosis.  

• You are between the ages of 18 to 35. 

• Have an interest in the topic of loneliness and social experiences of autistic people.  

The SELA Team values a diverse team. We want to this council to include autistic people with a range of experiences and backgrounds.  

 

• We are especially interested in making sure our team has representation of: 
   

• People from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. 
   

• People who have differing support needs, disability, and education levels. We especially encourage people with intellectual disability or are non-speaking to apply.  
   

We are currently looking for autistic adults who live in the United States. Participation is remote (using Zoom, phone/text, and email), so you can participate from anywhere in the US.  

 

How can I apply?  

  

If you’re interested, email us at kc3...@drexel.edu. We’ll send you more information and a short application form.  

 

Please also reach out to us if you need accommodations or support with this process. We will be happy to help! 

 

We have a small number of slots (8-10 members) for Community Council members. If we don’t select your application, we can hold onto it in case new slots open.    

 

Please feel free to share this email or flyer with anyone you know who may be interested in this project.  

 

Best regards,  

 

Ava Gurba & The SELA Project Team

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Ava Gurba, M.S.

Pronouns: She/Her

Research Associate

Social Connections & Treatment Lab (SCTL)

Life Course Outcomes (LCO) Research Program

AJ Drexel Autism Institute

Drexel University

Social Media Editor, Autism in Adulthood

Topic Coordinator, Frontiers in Psychiatry, Break the Stigma: Autism Special Issue

Email: ava....@drexel.edu / avan...@gmail.com

CLICK HERE to book a meeting with me. 

[Elizabeth Green]

Dear colleagues,

I’m reaching out to invite participation in a collaborative pilot of Neurohub Learning (promo video), a digital platform I’ve developed to help neurodivergent college students and young adults navigate the transition from school to work — with a particular focus on self-awareness/self-advocacy, executive function, and employment readiness.

We’re offering a free 8-week bootcamp to campuses interested in testing Neurohub with students who would benefit from structured, neurodiversity-affirming goal support. Participating schools would gain access to:

• A private learning space for student participants
• Weekly micro-lessons focused on self-discovery, burnout prevention, and career readiness
• Access to live “Ask-an-Expert” chats (OTs, HR professionals, psychologists, and benefits counselors)
• Optional “co-pilot” curriculum for mentors, coaches, or family members to help with accountability

The goal of this pilot is to gather both qualitative and quantitative feedback on student engagement, usability, and outcomes. I’m particularly eager to collaborate with career centers, disability services, or research teams interested in:

• Testing innovative support models for autistic and otherwise neurodivergent college students
• Exploring real-world data on executive function, self-advocacy, or employment readiness
• Co-designing or participating in a future research study built from this pilot’s findings

My long-term vision is for Neurohub to be free to consumers, funded through public mechanisms such as Medicaid, Vocational Rehabilitation, and waiver programs. To get there, I need robust metrics that demonstrate value and impact — and I believe the CAN community is uniquely positioned to help shape that evidence base.

If you or your team are interested in testing Neurohub or discussing possible research collaboration, I’d love to connect. I can provide demo access, a sample curriculum, and details on how we’re currently structuring the 8-week pilot.

Warmly,
Liz Green, OTR/L

Elizabeth Green, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist, Owner

Link Consulting, LLC

She/her/hers

T: 720-432-7279

F: 720-575-8031

www.linktalent.org 

Psychology Today profile

See our 60 second value proposition video here!

 

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From: Ava Gurba <avan...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 11:43 AM
To: CAN-C...@collegeautismnetwork.org <CAN-C...@collegeautismnetwork.org>
Cc: Gurba,Ava <ag4...@drexel.edu>; ws...@drexel.edu <ws...@drexel.edu>; sv...@drexel.edu <sv...@drexel.edu>; Chvasta,Kyle <kc3...@drexel.edu>; nl...@drexel.edu <nl...@drexel.edu>
Subject: [CANVAS] Calling Autistic Adults to Join Community Council on Participatory Study on Social Loneliness in Autistic Young Adults

 

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