Steven KappAcademic

Biography

Dr Steven Kapp is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, where his research focuses on autism as a construct, diagnosis, and identity, as well as the lived experiences and quality of life of autistic people. His academic background spans psychology, education, public policy, and disability studies, with publications also reaching anthropology, medicine, and neuroscience. He completed a postdoctoral research fellowship on the Wellcome Trust-funded project Exploring Diagnosis: Autism and Neurodiversity at the University of Exeter (2016–2019), and joined the University of Portsmouth in October 2019, being promoted to Senior Lecturer in September 2022. He edited the open-access book Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement: Stories from the Frontline (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020), which provided the first historical overview of the autism rights branch of the neurodiversity movement. He is known for arguing against the misconception that rising autism and ADHD self-identification reflects inaccuracy, and for challenging policy approaches that do not centre autistic people's unmet needs and rights.

References

1. 1.Steven Kapp | University of Portsmouth — Confirms current role as Senior Lecturer in Psychology, background, and DSM-5 contribution
2. 2.Expert reaction to interim report on rise in conditions such as ADHD and Autism as commissioned by Wes Streeting | Science Media Centre — Establishes press-quoted health/care commentary role and key public arguments on autism diagnosis policy (April 2026)
3. 3.Expert reaction to study looking at time trends in male to female ratio for autism diagnosis | Science Media Centre — Second Science Media Centre quote confirming UK press expert role on autism diagnosis
4. 4.Steven Kapp | University of Portsmouth | Psychology | Autism | Newswise — Confirms academic background, career history, DSM-5 role, Exeter fellowship, and first authorship on neurodiversity study

Expertise

Cited on

• Learning disability & autism

Stated areas of expertise

• Autism diagnosis and identity
• Neurodiversity and disability rights
• Autistic quality of life and healthcare
• Participatory autism research
• Developmental psychology
• Disability policy

Notable achievements

• As director of science in the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, substantially influenced the revision of autism's diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5. Source ↗
• Edited open-access book Autistic Community and the Neurodiversity Movement: Stories from the Frontline, published by Palgrave Macmillan (2020), described as the first historical overview of the autism rights branch of the neurodiversity movement. Source ↗
• Quoted by Science Media Centre in expert reaction to the UK Government's interim report on rising autism and ADHD diagnoses commissioned by Wes Streeting (April 2026), arguing that self-identification of autism is not inaccurate and that self-identifying adults show higher unmet needs than formally diagnosed peers. Source ↗
• First-authored a study in Developmental Psychology presenting the first known direct comparison of autistic and non-autistic people's attitudes toward autism and the neurodiversity movement. Source ↗

What they’ve said

• “There is a long history of a cottage industry of false causes and 'treatments' offered for autism that prey on desperate people's hopes and fears. It is sad that unqualified demagogues continue to disregard science.”

  senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Portsmouth and member of the Coalition of Autism Scientists · Learning disability & autism · 27 Aug 2026 · Wes Streeting rejects Trump claim linking paracetamol and autism ↗

• “An implication is that society needs to stop going down rabbit holes of seeking false prevention of developmental disabilities. Instead, we should focus on making the world a better place for disabled people.”

  Senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Portsmouth · Learning disability & autism · 27 Aug 2026 · Study debunks Trump claim that paracetamol causes autism ↗

• “Separating different types of autism diagnoses in this way is "not scientifically justified". "Despite efforts, no independent research teams have been able to identify valid subtypes of autism."”

  senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Portsmouth · Learning disability & autism · 27 Aug 2026 · Independent autism committee that challenges RFK Jr’s overhaul draws criticism ↗

Source references

1. Wes Streeting rejects Trump claim linking paracetamol and autismtheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
2. Study debunks Trump claim that paracetamol causes autismtheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
3. Independent autism committee that challenges RFK Jr’s overhaul draws criticismtheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/steven-kapp
• LinkedInhttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/steven-kapp-22154718bpublished here ↗
• Websitehttps://researchportal.port.ac.uk/en/persons/steven-kapp/

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.