February Newsletter 2024
=======================

Hi from AutSPACEs!

We're changing mail providers! This is the last newsletter from TinyLetter before we [move over to Wordpress, where our newsletter archive will be hosted too](https://autspacesnews.wordpress.com/). We will automatically move your subscription over to this new provider. If you instead would no longer like to receive these updates please email [Georgia](mailto:[e-mail]).

Our next meet-up session is also coming up soon, please join us on March 7th! We would like to chat about our ongoing user tests and also discuss how we should go about using & sharing the research data that soon will be collected by AutSPACEs.

**Date:** Thursday 07 March 2024

**Time:** 12:00-1:30pm

**Location:**     

   Online via. Zoom: https://turing-uk.zoom.us/j/523235071

## Paid opportunity - AutSPACEs Co-Writer

We are co-designing a citizen science platform with a community of autistic people. The platform will be used to gather qualitiative data about how autistic people are influence by sensory processing differences in their daily lives, with the end goal of collecting data which will inform positive changes to environments so they are more accesible and better suited to autistic people. Participatory research is core to the AutSPACEs approach, and people with lived experience of autism have been involved at every stage of the project in order to ensure that we create a citizen science platform which meets the needs and priorities of those for whom there is most at stake.

We are currently in the final stages of developing the platform, to launch later in 2024. This includes writing and proofing text which will give a background to the project, explain the research topic of sensory processing, and guide users on how they can interact with the platform. We are looking to contract the services of a writer with lived experience of autism to co-write the copy for the platform with the research team and the wider community.

**We are looking for an established freelancer who is already able to produce invoices.**

If you'd like to apply please message Georgia with:
* A CV or your preferred way of demonstrating your experience
* A short position statement, including an explanation of your interest in working with AutSPACEs.
* A sample of your writing or a link to a website where we can read your writing.

We are looking for someone that could do this work over the course of March.

If you have any concerns or questions about the application process or the role please email Georgia at [e-mail] before the application deadline.

## Paid opportunity - Graphic Designer

We are co-designing a citizen science platform with a community of autistic people. The platform will be used to gather qualitative data about how autistic people are influence by sensory processing differences in their daily lives, with the end goal of collecting data which will inform positive changes to environments so they are more accessible and better suited to autistic people. Participatory research is core to the AutSPACEs approach, and people with lived experience of autism have been involved at every stage of the project in order to ensure that we create a citizen science platform which meets the needs and priorities of those for whom there is most at stake.

In response to community feedback and to improve both accessibility and experience, the project seeks to commission a series of illustrations. The illustrations should help convey the purpose of the project and platform, make its main functionalities clear and provide a welcoming feeling.

These images must be clear and appeal to a diverse range of autistic people. It is important to consider accessibility requirements, and to harmonise with the existing design system.

The images will also be used in presentations about AutSPACEs, as well as in other communications, such as newsletters and Twitter posts. The candidate will deliver 5 designs and work closely with the AutSPACEs team to make sure their designs are integrated into the platform.

**We are looking for an established freelancer who is already able to produce invoices.**

If you'd like to apply please message Georgia with:
* A CV or your preferred way of demonstrating your experience
* A short position statement, including an explanation of your interest in working with AutSPACEs.
* 4-5 examples of your design work or a link to where we can look at your work.

We are looking for someone that could do this work over the course of March.

If you have any concerns or questions about the application process or the role please email Georgia at [e-mail] before the application deadline.

## Blog Post

Georgia & Bastian have written a short blogpost about what we've learned from testing the AutSPACEs platform after the first wave of user testing. This has now been published on the Software Sustainability Institute and you can read it by following this link: Your blog post has been published at https://www.software.ac.uk/blog/user-testing-citizen-science-platform. Many thanks to everyone who took part! We've learnt a huge amount from your feedback and insights.

## User Testing

Over the last two weeks we have completed 10 more user tests with different people, most of them who were new to AutSPACEs! Thank you so much to everyone who took part. We've learnt lots already and it's been really helpful to see how the feedback from previous testing has changed how easy the website is to use. We've also got some useful input on the next set of changes to make on the platform. Thank you so much to everyone who took part or expressed interest. It's been great to see the website in action!

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If you're not too sure about GitHub but would like to know more, _The Turing Way Book_ has a whole section on how to get started for successful collaboration and involvement. We highly recommend this book also for anyone who is interested in Open Source Research and Reproducibility! Follow this link for Getting Started with GitHub: https://the-turing-way.netlify.app/collaboration/github-novice.html

### Connect with us

* [Github repository](https://github.com/alan-turing-institute/AutSPACEs)
* [Join us on Slack](https://slackin.openhumans.org/)
* [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/AutSpaces)

You are also welcome to email [Georgia](mailto:[e-mail]) and we will support you to be involved or answer any questions you might have.

As always, a huge thank you is due to everyone in the community for all of your ongoing efforts and wonderful contributions. You are making a big difference in creating research which can benefit autistic people and their families.

Very best wishes,

Georgia, Sophia, Bastian, and David