Dr. Heather M. Brown

Associate Professor

Dr. Heather M. Brown was initially trained as an elementary school teacher, but she is now an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta.


Dr. Brown’s research program is grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach that centers Autistic voices and identities.


She is an Autistic researcher passionate about supporting the academic achievement and overall well-being of Autistic children, youth and adults.


Her research approach is community-based and participatory, empowering Autistic individuals to embrace their neurodiversity confidently, and aims to understand the factors that best support their well-being at home, at work, and at school.


Dr. Brown leads a dynamic team of collaborators and graduate students across Canada and internationally. She takes particular pride in mentoring emerging scholars, especially those with lived experience of neurodivergence.

The personal story of Heather Brown, a woman on the autism spectrum

CURRENT FUNDED RESEARCH

Campus Belonging: Exploring Accessible Education in Canadian Post-Secondary Environments

2023-2029

SSHRC Insight Research Program - $317,932

Principle-investigator with Briano Di Rezze, David Nicholas, Sandy Hodgetts, Patty Douglas, Carly McMorris, Megan Ames, Michelle Searle, Tara Connolly, Jess Lopez, Claudius Soodeen, Patrick Dwyer


Drawing on a participatory action approach based in a critical disability orientation, this project will identify facilitators and barriers to autistic PS students’ sense of belonging on campus i.e., “the extent to which students feel personally accepted, respected, included, and supported by others in the school environment” (Goodenow & Grady, 1993, p. 60).

Measuring Autistic Writing Development: Combining Perspectives from Neurodiversity Advocates, Autism Researchers, and Writing Theories

2023-2026

SSHRC Partnership Development Grant - $199,906

Principle-investigator with Matthew Zajic, Kristie Asaro-Saddler, Narmene Hamsho, Patty Douglas


This project will be the first large-scale mixed-method study to comprehensively examine autistic written language development among autistic youths with a focus on understanding the intersections between writing products, writing processes, and writing and autistic identity.

AWARDS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

A line drawing of a ribbon with a circle in the middle.

Autism Research Training (ART) Scholarship

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

   A merit-based scholarship focused on academic excellence, commitment to autism research in     a variety of disciplines, and ability to translate research into practice

Pursuit Award in Childhood Disability Research 

Bloorview's Research Institute

   An award that recognizes PhD students and alumni across the globe for their outstanding         contributions and achievements in childhood disability research

Mattel launches its first ever autistic Barbie doll.

(2026, January 14) CBC Edmonton AM Radio Interview. Mattel launches its first ever autistic Barbie doll. Interview with Tara McCarthy. 

How best to support students with autism spectrum disorder.

(2025, April 10) CBC Edmonton AM Radio Interview. How best to support students with autism spectrum disorder. INTERVIEW with Mark Connolly, Tara McCarthy. 

Included but not inclusive: A critical content analysis of qualitative academic research studies involving autistic women through a femme theory framework.

Coombs, E., Maroney, M.R., Brown, H.M., McMorris, C. N. (Accepted). Included but not

inclusive: A critical content analysis of qualitative academic research studies involving autistic women through a femme theory framework. Journal of Femininities PREACH 2023 Special Issue

Being able to be myself: Understanding autonomy and

autonomy-support from the perspectives of autistic adults with intellectual disabilities.

Ryan, J., Brown, H. M., Borden, A., Devlin, C., Kedmy, A., Lee, A., Nicholas, D. B., Kingsley, B.,

& Thompson-Hodgetts, S. (2024). Being able to be myself: Understanding autonomy and

autonomy-support from the perspectives of autistic adults with intellectual disabilities. Autism, 1-

12

Toward understanding and enhancing self-determination: a

qualitative exploration with autistic adults without co-occurring intellectual disability.

Thompson-Hodgetts, S., Ryan, J., Coombs, E., Brown, H. M., Xavier, A., Devlin, C., Lee, A.,

Kedmy, A., & Borden, A. (2023). Toward understanding and enhancing self-determination: a

qualitative exploration with autistic adults without co-occurring intellectual disability. Frontiers in

psychiatry, 14, 1-12.

Improving autism identification and support for individuals assigned female at birth: clinical suggestions and research priorities.

Lai, M.-C., Amestoy, A., Bishop, S., Brown, H. M., Onaiwu, M. G., Halladay, A., Harrop, C., Hotez, E., Huerta, M., & Kelly, A. (2023). Improving autism identification and support for individuals assigned female at birth: clinical suggestions and research priorities. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 7(12), 897-908.

A scoping review of evidence-based supports on college and university campuses for autistic post-secondary students.

Nelson, H., Switalsky, D., Ciesielski, J., Brown, H.M., Ryan, J., Stothers, M., Coombs, E., Crerar, A., Devlin, C., Bendevis, C., Ksiazek, T., Dwyer, P., Hack, C., Connolly, T., Nicholas, D. & DiRezze, B. (2023). A scoping review of evidence-based supports on college and university campuses for autistic post-secondary students. Frontiers in Education, 8, DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1179865

Updates to the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) Research Agenda.

Hotez, E., Haley, M., Martinez-Agosto, J. A., Anderson, J., Brown, H.M., Choi, K., ... & Williams, Z. (2023). Updates to the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) Research Agenda. Cureus, 15(8), 1-17. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44388

Learning from the experts: Evaluating a participatory autism and universal design training for university educators

Waisman, T., Williams, Z. J., Cage, E., Santhanam, S. P., Magiati, I., Dwyer, P., Stockwell, K. M., Kofner, B., Brown, H., Davidson, D., Herrell, J., Shore, S. M., Caudel, D., Gurbuz, E., & Gillespie-Lynch, K. (2023). Learning from the experts: Evaluating a participatory autism and universal design training for university educators. Autism, 27(2), 356–370. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221097207

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health Autistic Researcher Review Board

Brown, H. M., Dwyer, P. S., Gassner, D. L., Onaiwu, M. G., Kapp, S. K., Ne'eman, A., ... & Williams, Z. J. (2022). The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health Autistic Researcher Review Board. Pediatrics, 149(Supplement 4).

Measuring Autistic Writing Skills: Combining Perspectives from Neurodiversity Advocates, Autism Researchers, and Writing Theories

Zajic, M. C., & Brown, H. M. (2022). Measuring autistic writing skills: Combining perspectives from neurodiversity advocates, autism researchers, and writing theories. Human Development, 66(2), 128-148.

An Expert Roundtable Discussion on Experiences of Autistic Autism Researchers

Dwyer, P., Acevedo, S. M., Brown, H. M., Grapel, J., Jones, S. C., Nachman, B. R., ... & Williams, Z. J. (2021). An expert roundtable discussion on experiences of autistic autism researchers. Autism in Adulthood, 3(3), 209-220.

Changing the story: How diagnosticians can support a neurodiversity perspective from the start

Brown, H. M., Stahmer, A. C., Dwyer, P., & Rivera, S. (2021). Changing the story: How diagnosticians can support a neurodiversity perspective from the start. Autism, 25(5), 1171–1174. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211001012

Meta-analysis of receptive and expressive language skills in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Kwok, E. Y., Brown, H. M., Smyth, R. E., & Cardy, J. O. (2015). Meta-analysis of receptive and expressive language skills in autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 9, 202-222.


Exploring the persuasive writing skills of students with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

Brown, H. M., Johnson, A. M., Smyth, R. E., & Cardy, J. O. (2014). Exploring the persuasive writing skills of students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(11), 1482-1499.