Jan Wozniak named TMU's first recipient of Autism Scholars Award
The Autism Scholars Awards Program (external link) , supported by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, promotes pioneering autism research in Ontario. Each year, it recognizes five Ontario university graduate students for their contributions to new discoveries and treatments that benefit individuals with autism and their families. Jan Wozniak is the first recipient of the Autism Scholars Award from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
Wozniak (he/him) is completing his honours bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Disability Studies at TMU. Wozniak also currently holds a BA (Hons) in English and Philosophy and an MA in Philosophy from TMU. He is scheduled to begin his master’s in Social Work at the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work at the University of Toronto in Fall 2024.
Jan Wozniak
Wozniak's study examines the co-occurrence of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), aiming to identify early psychosocial and behavioural interventions to enhance well-being.
Wozniak highlights that while individuals with ASC and ADHD often exhibit strengths in areas such as creativity, passion, dedication and resilience, Canadian research shows elevated stress and suicide risks in these populations. According to the minority stress model (MSM), in addition to everyday stressors commonly experienced by the general population, minority groups encounter additional stress related to social marginalization and oppression. Recently, the MSM has been adapted to examine minority stressors in those with disabilities, including ASC. As a neurological minority, autistic individuals often struggle to fit into predominantly neurotypical environments that are not conducive to their social and sensory processing needs.
Wozniak’s study will be the first to qualitatively investigate stress and coping in individuals with ASC-ADHD. The research will gather detailed descriptions of their experiences, including minority stressors, coping styles, motivations and protective factors, through interviews and questionnaires. Participants will also offer recommendations for improving healthcare and mental health services.
Deepening our understanding of minority stress and coping in individuals with dual ASC-ADHD diagnoses could lead to earlier psychosocial and behavioural interventions, reducing harm and enhancing the quality of life. By engaging participants and valuing their insights, researchers can gather firsthand accounts of service needs and recommendations, supporting the long-term health and mental well-being of the autism and ADHD communities.
In addition to this project, Wozniak is also a member of multiple research teams conducting studies on (1) autism-informed virtual mindfulness programs for autistic adults, (2) autism-informed acceptance and commitment therapy for autistic adults, (3) co-facilitation experiences between autistic advisors and non-autistic clinicians in the delivery of mindfulness interventions and (4) qualitative investigations of autism and social anxiety, stress, and burnout among autistic adults.
I am incredibly grateful to Toronto Metropolitan University for serving as my sponsoring university for this award. A special thank you to my Director at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Dr. Yona Lunsky, and my research supervisor and Lab Director at TMU, Dr. Martin Antony, for your ongoing support and encouragement. As an autistic student and neurodevelopmental researcher, winning this award definitely means a lot to me, not just academically and professionally, but on a personal level.
Wozniak serves as a Program Engagement Co-Facilitator at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (external link) , where he is currently working to improve virtual interventions and programming for adults with developmental disabilities. Jan is also a member of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Lab (external link) at TMU and a research advisor in the BIMS Lab and the Social Cognitive Science Lab at the University of Toronto. In addition to hospital and lab-related positions, Jan was appointed to a two-year term with the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the Canadian Psychological Association, launching new tools, resources, and events that support historically underrepresented communities within the field of psychology.