About us

The Academic Collaborative Centre for Autism is a collaborative network in Flanders (Belgium) that was funded by the Flemish government in 2018.

Collaboration with organisations

A first call for good practices that were to be evaluated was launched by the KU Leuven and UGent in 2018, followed by a second call in 2021. After these calls we started collaborations with various organisations for autistic individuals and their families. Within these projects we evaluate specific support or services.  

Expert panels

We base ourselves on the advice of four different expert panels to select the projects: autistic adults, parents of an autistic child, professionals who work with autistic individuals, and researchers. They assess the projects on relevance, added value, opportunities for further dissemination and feasibility of the research project. Representatives from the autism community are also consulted on a regular basis during the different research phases of the selected projects. We cooperate with LAVA vzw and Flemish Autism Association for this purpose.

Steering committee and advisory group

The Academic Collaborative Centre for Autism is directed by a steering committee, which consists of representatives from the autism community, experts of the Flemish autism taskforce, the Department of Welfare, Public Health and Family, and the universities. In addition, the Academic Collaborative Centre for Autism is advised by a broad advisory group, which includes representatives from other government departments and various umbrella organizations.

Research team

• Prof. dr. Ilse Noens
  Parenting and Special Education, KU Leuven
  Leuven Autism Research, KU Leuven
• Prof. dr. Herbert Roeyers
  Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, UGent
• Dr. Jarymke Maljaars
  Parenting and Special Education, KU Leuven
  Leuven Autism Research, KU Leuven
• Dr. Sara Van der Paelt
  Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, UGent