Jan-Pieter Teunisse
Professor of Autism through the Lifespan
What do these people, with their particular way of thinking and seeing the world, need to function optimally in society? Jan-Pieter Teunisse conducts applied research on the organisation and content of lifelong support for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, better known simply as autism).
Improving lifelong support for autism
An autism spectrum disorder (ASD, or simply autism) is an information processing disorder that leads to problems in communication, social interaction and imagination. It is a lifelong disorder, expressed in different ways over the course of an individual’s lifetime and in every area of life. Within the autism spectrum, a distinction is made between classic autism, Asperger’s and PDD-NOS (although this distinction will disappear in the future). Autism is 90% hereditary and occurs in about 1% of the population. Professor Teunisse conducts applied research on the organisation and content of lifelong support for people with autism with a normal-range IQ as well as their families. His research involves people of all ages.
Components of lifespan coaching
The aim of lifespan coaching is to enable people with autism to lead their lives as fully and independently as possible. To optimise treatment and coaching, the autism disorder should be viewed in the context of an individual’s entire life.
Lifespan coaching is about designing and shaping the individual’s life. While its exact form can vary, there are certain crucial components:
- The citizenship paradigm
- Self-regulation
- Empowerment
- Flexibility in coaching intensity
E-health in autism
The use of e-health technologies (home electronics, ICT applications) also has a growing impact on the content of lifespan coaching. The task of the research group Lifespan Coaching for Autism, led by Professor Teunisse, is to further develop, scientifically underpin and test this form of support in practice.
Applied research on adequate support
Jan Pieter Teunisse conducts applied research on the organisation and content of lifelong support for people with autism spectrum disorder. His research focuses on the development of tools and resources that enable people with autism to lead their lives as fully and independently as possible. Together with his research team, he develops knowledge to further develop, scientifically underpin and test this form of support in practice.
Interaction between practice, research and education
Teunisse brings about interaction between practice, research and education. This can be seen in the development of the minor in Lifespan Coaching for Autism, for example, and the Living Lab for people with autism. His, and his students’, work is guided by the question “What do these people, with their particular way of thinking and seeing the world, need to function optimally in society?”
Background
Professor Jan-Pieter Teunisse is a neuropsychologist and researcher of autism at the Dr Leo Kannerhuis (an autism centre) and the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. This combination allows him to link research with practice.
Expertise areas
- Lifespan Coaching for Autism
Partners in research
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis
- MEE Veluwe
- MEE Oost-Gelderland
Projects
- Living Lab for people with autism
- Independence trough apps
Publications
- Aerts, F.A., Veerman, J.W., De Jong, D.W., Teunisse, J.P., & De Meyer, R.E. (submitted). Treatment of autistic children’s needs in the family: An explorative study of Family Home Treatment for Autism in Dutch families
- Visser, E.M., Berger, H.J.C., Prins, J.B., van Schrojenstein Lantman – De Valk, H.M.J., & Teunisse, J.P. (submitted). Cognitive shifting and externalizing problem behavior in intellectual dissability and autism spectrum disorder.
- Roelofs, R.L., Visser, E.M., Berger, H.J.C., Prins, J.B., van Schrojenstein Lantman – De Valk, H.M.J., & Teunisse, J.P. (submitted). Executive functioning in individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, doi: 10.1111/jir. 12085
- Begeer, S., Wierda, M., Scheeren, A., Geurts, H.M., Teunisse, J.P., & Koot, H.M. (2013). Brief report: Verbal Fluency in Children with autism Spectrum Disorders: Clustering and Switching Strategies and the Relation to Daily Life Behaviour. Autism. Doi: 10.1177/1362361313500381
- Teunisse, J.P., Roelofs, R.L., Verhoeven, E.W.M., Cuppen, L., Mol, J., & Berger, H.J.C. (2012). Flexiblity in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): Inconsistency between neuropsychological tests and parent-based rating scales. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsyhology, 34(7):714-23.
- Verhoeven, E.W.M., Marijnissen, N., Berger, H.J.C., Oudshoorn, J., van der Sijde, A. & Teunisse, J.P. (2012). Brief report: relationship between self-awareness of real-world behavior and treatment outcome in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(5):889/94.
- Tesink, C., Buitelaar, J. Petersson, K.M., van der Gaag, R.J., Teunisse, J.P., & Hagoort, P. (2011). Neural correlates of language comprehension in autism specturm disorders: when language conflicts with world knowledge. Neuropsychologia, 49, 1095-1104.