Jessica K Doyle
Assistant Psychologist
PSI Graduate member no.: M9219
Jessica joined The Adult Autism Practice as an Assistant Psychologist in December 2020.
Jessica is an autistic researcher with a passion for engagement in psychological research on autism, specifically autistic neuro, perceptual and sensory systems and gender differences. This year Jessica attained an honours B.A. in psychology from Trinity College Dublin. Jessica is a graduate member of the Psychological Society of Ireland and is a committee member on the PSI Autism Special Interest Group.
From 2011 to 2014 Jessica was a founding director of Galway Autism Partnership (GAP) while she was in Galway studying TV and Film Production and then Disability studies. In her role as a director of GAP, she conceptualised, developed, facilitated and advised on the 'special interest model' youth café; a youth café designed for autistic individuals aged 11- 17 years in mainstream education who are at risk of bullying or social isolation. Her own experience of being a young autistic individual inspired Jessica to create a space where autistic youths could express themselves, feel empowered to be themselves, form friendships and belong. Jessica also designed and led the team that built the GAP sensory room. Jessica also put together a proposal for an autistic girls club.
Throughout 2019/20, Jessica's focus has been on her international research into autistic perception; exploring the links between perception, cognition and anxiety in autistic adults through the lens of hierarchical predictive coding and investigating formats of thought in autistic adults. Previously she was on a research team that conducted international research that looked at the effects of anthropomorphism on loneliness in autistic adults, and she is presently on a team exploring autistic individuals experience of psychiatric care.
Jessica enjoys linking and uncovering patterns, hypothesising and investigating theories and experimenting with translating findings into applicable practice. Such applications include her prototype outdoor sensory space designed to be optimal for an autistic system by minimising uncertainty while enabling vestibular and proprioceptive input, fresh air and exercise. She is currently experimenting with adding a sound experience space to facilitate exploration of stimming and pressure of movement through sound. She designed The Autism Covid-19 Individual health Action Plan; a free visual resource for autistic individuals designed to help clarify and navigate steps to a COVID-19 diagnosis and plan for hospital treatment. https://bit.ly/3gPOJ2v
Jessica believes in an approach to autism research that takes a neutral perspective — similar to the difference between a diesel engine and a petrol engine. An autistic neurotype and a non-autistic neurotype have many similarities, but they also have many differences. Treating them both as the same will cause problems as will treating one as a malfunction of the other.
Respectful research must view different neurotypes as independently valid with a spectrum of contextually dependant strengths and challenges. Findings from such research can then be translated into the design and adaption of environments and societies that promote optimal functioning and outcomes for both.
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