Natalie Cairns-Ratter: Flow in music practice and the experience of autistic children

Will sits down with fellow Autistic Education PhD Natalie Cairns-Ratter. Natalie is a musician, music teacher, and mother of an Autistic son, which all led her, first to a Master of Education at the Royal College of Music, then to her doctorate. Natalie’s research investigates experiences of flow  - full immersion and intense focus on a task – during music practice, with the view of reconceptualising ‘repetitive behaviours’ of Autistic children as flow experiences. Her work is part of a broader movement for Autistic-led research (a particular aspect of the “nothing about us without us” movement in disability studies) and Critical Autism Studies.  She is also full of useful recommendations for scholarship and wellbeing.  Natalie’s LinkedIn page. Natalie’s research profile. Books mentioned: The Routledge handbook of Critical Autism Studies (D Milton, S Ryan editors) Ginny Russell’s The Rise of Autism Prof. Ockelford’s Comparing Notes  If you are a Roehampton student, these are all available at our excellent Library page! Podcasts: BBC Radio 4’s The Autism Curve The PhD LifeRaft Also, Connected Papers, a tool mapping the connections within the literature, and  Attention Restoration Theory (incl. ‘soft fascination’) on the benefits of Nature for attention and cognitive health. Chapters: 00:09 Introduction 00:43 Natalie and her research 02:11 Progress and method 03:23 Natalie’s route to her doctorate 04:55 Juggling the PhD with the rest 06:08 Natalie’s other academic pursuits 06:32 Her favourite part of the PhD... 07:50 ... and her least favourite! 08:45 Accessibility of the milestones 10:30 Resources and recommendations  14:57 Health and wellbeing 19:08 Goodbyes and recap  The Roey Grad Podcast is a presentation of the University of Roehampton’s Graduate School.  Our theme music is by DiamondTunes  Our hosts are two PhDs of Roehampton, Charles Miller and Will Berard, who also edits and mixes the podcast. It was produced by Aaliyah Hassan. Comments, questions, want to appear on the show? Get in touch at [email protected]