DevDivLab member Dr. David Ruttenberg has published a new article in Frontiers in Psychiatry (2026) titled, “Multimodal evidence and technology-enabled accommodations for autistic adults: an evidential framework for autism research and practice.”
The article advances an evidential framework that integrates multimodal data and technology-enabled accommodations to better support autistic adults across research and applied contexts. It emphasizes rigor, accessibility, and ecological validity, offering actionable guidance for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers working at the intersection of autism, mental health, and emerging technologies.
An open-access version of the article is available here.
Citation: Ruttenberg, D. (2026). Multimodal evidence and technology-enabled accommodations for autistic adults: an evidential framework for autism research and practice. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 17:1852731. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1852731
DevDivLab member Dr. David Ruttenberg has published a new article in Springer Nature’s AI & Society (2026) titled, “The AIR Framework for Research Transparency: A Critical Analysis of Stage-Specific AI Disclosure in the Context of Accessibility and Research Integrity.”
The article introduces the AIR framework, a stage-specific model for AI disclosure across research workflows that explicitly addresses accessibility and the experiences of disabled and neurodivergent scholars. The framework offers practical and ethical guidance for researchers, editors, institutions, and policymakers navigating the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, research integrity, and inclusive scholarship.
An open-access version of the article is available here.
Citation: Ruttenberg, D. The AIR framework for research transparency: a critical analysis of stage-specific AI disclosure in the context of accessibility and research integrity. AI & Society (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-026-03082-x
In April 2025, Dr. David Ruttenberg contributed to the national conversation on autism through opinion pieces published in the The New York Times and the Miami Herald. In these articles, he critically examined public claims made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. These claims framed autism as an “epidemic.”
Dr. Ruttenberg argued that such rhetoric is both scientifically inaccurate and socially harmful. He noted that it perpetuates stigma and undermines decades of progress in understanding autism as a spectrum of neurodevelopmental differences. Drawing on his expertise in cognitive neuroscience and his lived experience as a parent, he emphasized the importance of evidence-based and compassionate discourse. He also advocated for a shift in public conversation toward inclusion, dignity, and meaningful investment in supports and policies. These efforts, he argued, are essential to improving quality of life for autistic individuals and their families.
Ruttenberg, D. (2025, April 24). Opinion: Kennedy’s Dangerous Autism Claims. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/opinion/kennedy-autism.html
Ruttenberg, D. (2025, April 18). Opinion: RFK Jr.’s Claims About Autism Being an ‘Epidemic’ Are Harmful. The Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article304284081.html
Dr. David Ruttenberg, PhD, FRSA, FIoHE, AFHEA, HSRF, recently served as an invited reviewer for multiple study sections within the National Institutes of Health. His contributions included the Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI) Scientific Review Board and the SBIR/STTR Psychopathology and Mental Health Interventions Review Panel. In these roles, he applied his interdisciplinary expertise in cognitive neuroscience, multimodal learning analytics, and neurodiversity research. He evaluated innovative, high-impact proposals focused on early detection, intervention strategies, and scalable mental health solutions.
Dr. Ruttenberg’s perspective is shaped by both his academic work and his lived experience as a parent of an autistic adult. This dual lens informed his approach to assessing scientific merit and real-world applicability. His service reflects a continued commitment to ensuring that federally funded research is both rigorous and meaningful. It also contributes to shaping a more inclusive and impactful future for mental health and autism research.
Congratulations to Nevin Ozden for presenting her poster “Beyond the Here and Now: Theory of Mind, Episodic Memory, Episodic Future Thinking” at the International Society for Autism Research 2025 on Thursday 1st May. Her poster explores how autistic and non-autistic people think about themselves in terms of both their personalities (psychological traits, like being “happy” or “clumsy”) and their physical traits (like being “tall” or “bald”) and how these change over time.
Click here to learn more about INSA to learn more about the event.
Congratulations to Dr. Ceci Qing Cai who has been awarded the British Psychological Society Neil O’Connor Award for her publication titled “Mapping the Differential Impact of Spontaneous and Conversational Laughter on Brain and Mind: An fMRI Study in Autism.”
The British Psychological Society Neil O’Connor Award is given to those who have published research on cognitive conditions that appear in development and persist throughout life.
She wishes to express her heartfelt thanks to Sophie K Scott, Sarah J White, Sam J Gilbert, Nadine Lavan, and the many dedicated students who supported this work! Special appreciation also goes to the incredible staff at ICN and BUCNI, whose efforts made it possible to carry out testing during the challenging times of the COVID pandemic. Deepest thanks are also extended to the autistic and non-autistic participants, whose time, trust, and insights made this research possible. Thank you!
Cai CQ, Lavan N, Chen SHY, Wang CZX, Ozturk OC, Gilbert SJ & White SJ (2024). Mapping the differential impact of spontaneous and conversational laughter on brain and mind: A fMRI study in autism. Cerebral Cortex, 34, Article bhae199.
To find out more about the British Psychological Society Neil O’Connor Award, click here.
We are sad to see Gillian Hughes leave the lab and thank her for all her hard work, including fulfilling her role as Autism Research Coordinator for Autism@ICN. We wish her well in her future endeavours!
Congratulations to Devangana Prasad for presenting her poster entitled “Does age of diagnosis affect how autistic adults mentalize about others?” at the Experimental Psychology Poster Session 2025 on Wednesday 8th January. Her poster explores whether the age at which autistic individuals are diagnosed affects how they mentalize about other autistic and non-autistic people.
To find out more about Devangana’s presentation, click here to see her talk-through video.
On October 18, 2024, David Ruttenberg, a Fulbright Specialist Awardee and PhD Research Scientist from University College London, delivered a lecture at Florida Atlantic University’s Hearing Tinnitus Balance Research Laboratory (HTBRL). Drawing from his research in cognitive neuroscience and multimodal learning analytics, David explored the intricate relationships between sound sensory processing, attention, and neurodiversity. He shared insights from his recent work on sensitivity, distractibility, and mental health accommodations for both neurotypical and neurodiverse individuals. Leveraging his personal experience as a parent of an autistic adults and his academic expertise, David discussed how sensory sensitivities can impact learning, employment, social interactions, and overall quality of life. The lecture concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where attendees—comprising Masters and PhD students—had the opportunity to delve deeper into David’s initiatives and approach to understanding cognitive diversity.
On the 25th and 26th of October, Dr. Sarah White attended the first conference in Italy on Autism in Action. The conference, titled “The Role of Executive Functions in Neurodiversity”, focused on the role of executive functions in the autism spectrum, from theory to practice, and from early intervention to empowerment in adults. Sarah delivered a keynote lecture titled “The Social Mind: How Do Executive Function & Mentalizing Interact in Autism?” to an audience of over 100 professionals, researchers, and students.
For more information about Autism in Action, visit here
