Rate My Professor Sonya Girdler

Professor Sonya Girdler is a Professor of Occupational Therapy affiliated with the Curtin School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University, Perth, Australia, where she directs the Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG). She earned her PhD from Curtin University in 2006, along with an MSc in Occupational Therapy and a BSc in Occupational Therapy. Additional roles include Program Director for Adulthood (Program 3) at the Autism CRC, Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia, and affiliation with the Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND) at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Girdler oversees all research activities within CARG, focusing on the development and implementation of strengths-based programs for neurodiverse individuals.

Her research specializations encompass autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental conditions, utilizing the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to examine functioning. Key interests involve the creation, evaluation, and practical translation of evidence-based interventions, including social skills training programs like KONTAKT™, strengths-based initiatives such as surfing and digital arts for autistic youth, mental health literacy, and strategies to enhance participation in employment, education, public transport, leisure, and community activities. She prioritizes co-production with autistic collaborators and interdisciplinary partnerships across engineering, humanities, and business. Girdler has authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications, with notable works including 'A Coproduced Exploration of Factors Influential to Quality of Life from the Perspective of Autistic Adults' (Autism in Adulthood, 2025), 'Career Guidance and Employment Issues for Neurodivergent Individuals: A Scoping Review and Stakeholder Consultation' (Human Resource Management, 2025), and 'Reliability, Validity and Acceptability of the PEDI-CAT with ASD Scales for Australian Children and Youth on the Autism Spectrum' (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2025). She leads Massive Open Online Courses such as 'Autism and Mental Health,' which received the edX Prize in 2023 after surpassing 40,000 global enrollments. Awards include the joint Western Australian Premier's Science Awards for the Chevron Science Engagement Initiative of the Year (2022) and the Research Team Award for CARG (2019). Her contributions extend to community engagement events and advocacy for women in STEMM research.