Sensory Processing and Irritability in Autistic Adolescents

Join us online to explore how sensory processing affects irritability in autistic teens and what helps!

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY) is delighted to welcome Sanjay Kumarendran, BSc on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 12-1 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. CDT, 9 a.m. PDT, 4 p.m. GMT, 5 p.m. BST, 6 p.m. CEST). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome.

TITLE: Sensory Processing and Irritability in Autistic Adolescents

DESCRIPTION: Irritability is a concerning problem for autistic adolescents, and can result in behaviours which are harmful both to themselves and others. It is crucial to understand why autistic adolescents experience heightened irritability. In this way, researchers and clinicians can develop more effective interventions which meaningfully address the root causes of distress, rather than merely suppressing disruptive behaviours. Sensory processing atypicalities are potentially relevant, as irritability may constitute a ‘protective’ response to the distress which sensory stimuli can cause for autistic people. Highlighting these challenges could prompt researchers and policymakers to create more supportive environments for autistic youth, and encourage researchers to develop novel neurofeedback methods to endogenously mitigate sensory distress.

BRIEF BIO: Sanjay Kumarendran (they/them) is an autistic autism researcher, activist, and philosopher. They received their Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Bath in 2023, and are currently working towards completion of their Master’s in Developmental Neuroscience, jointly awarded by the Anna Freud Centre and Yale University. Diagnosed as autistic at the age of 2, Sanjay benefited from extensive therapies and interventions, which their parents administered to them alongside a team of psychologists and behaviour technicians. Since then, Sanjay has become committed to ensuring that autistic people everywhere can access evidence-based and compassionate interventions, just as they did. To this end, Sanjay’s research is informed by their anti-capitalist and anarchist values, and a firm conviction that autistic people can only flourish in a non-hierarchical society. Learn more @sanjaykumarendran.bsky.social and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjay-kumarendran/

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou

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