Delighted to share this chapter on #AutisticAdvocacy that I co-wrote with Gabor Petri for the Palgrave Macmillan Encyclopedia on #Disability
We discuss how autistic advocacy evolved since the 1990s and barriers that still prevent autistic people from leading these conversations
lnkd.in/eUQ4JmYA
Great article in the latest ISRF newsletter by @autgeek.bsky.social and @drhelenkara.bsky.social - ‘Why is There So Much Research About Us Without Us?’ - on neurodivergence research funding and agendas. isrf.org/blog/why-is-...
#AutRes #DisabilityStudies
So much research happens about us without us.
@autgeek.bsky.social and I co-wrote this piece for @isrfoundation.bsky.social on why lived experience needs to be central to research, not an afterthought.
isrf.org/blog/why-is-...
#ResearchWithUs #ExpertsByExperience #Inclusion
Why Is There So Much Research About Us Without Us?
@drhelenkara.bsky.social and @autgeek.bsky.social outline why #neurodivergent led research is essential to building trust in communities and affirming neurodivergent ways of being.
isrf.org/blog/why-is-...
image of a child pointing towards the words 'want to contribute'
Would you like to contribute to a free booklet for Autistic young people? All messages will come from Autistic people. If you are not Autistic but are the caregiver of an Autistic child who would like to contribute, that’s fine - you’re welcome to help them share their message. lnkd.in/djmpg8WS
I'm so excited for this!
Please share with anyone you know who might be interested!
New blog post! We look back at the M-WAY qualitative study - led by @schampton.bsky.social - which explored autistic young people’s experiences of anxiety & depression. Read more 👉 m-way24.blogspot.com/2025/09/look...
Title slide: Where are the autistic people with intellectual disability in neurodiversity research? Contradictions and future directions
Next on autistic people with a learning disability from Izy Utley and @autgeek.bsky.social.
Can you help us? We are looking for participants to attend an autistic social group and then be interviewed about their experience of the group We are looking for people who: Are autistic Are aged 18 or over Are able to understand and communicate in English (using either mouth words or AAC) You will be asked to: Attend an autistic-run social group with 9 other autistic people for a total of 6 sessions. At the end of Session 2 and Session 6 you will be asked to complete a simple diagram to show us which people (if any) you enjoyed spending time with in the group Within two weeks of the final session you will be interviewed about your experiences of the group The group will be held at Scottish Autism's Blue Central support base in Dunfermline, KY11 8US. It will take place at 6.30-8 pm on Wednesday evenings on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th of May and the 11th and 18th of June We will work with you to make taking part as accessible as possible for all group members You will receive a £30 voucher for completing the interview. This research is being conducted by George Watts, an autistic PhD researcher at Durham University. The research team includes a mix of autistic and non-autistic researchers from the University of Durham, University of Edinburgh and Scottish Autism. For more information please email georgina.n.watts@durham.ac.uk
Do you know any autistic adults based near Dunfermline? If so then I need your help!
I need a few more participants to join my study which is starting next week!
Please share this poster with anyone who might be interested
Feel free to email me with any questions at georgina.n.watts@durham.ac.uk
I was out with my dog earlier and someone walking towards us said enthusiastically to their dog "look it's a lovely collie!" and then as they passed they said "Hello Collie-wobble!" to my dog (who is indeed a collie) while completely ignoring me. I like this stranger a lot, it made my day.
Being autistic often feels like being the kid in The Emperor's New Clothes; people don't like it if you point out the obvious and it's very confusing that everyone insists on pretending the obvious isn't true just to maintain expected social conventions
Is my mental health terrible or did I just forget to eat again? - an autistic memoir.
I'll have you know these are my emotional support fish fingers and custard.
That is all.
How are those ears even real?!
bsky.app/profile/autg...
The image description! 🤣
It has genuinely made my week! I keep telling people about it.
I now have photographic evidence of this phenomenon!
I also have more questions.
I’m a non-binary Autistic classically trained chef and author! I wrote a food aversion acceptance cookbook and guide titled COLOR TASTE TEXTURE! It’s all about learning how to make food work to your needs, for all ages and all levels of cooking ability (even those who’ve never cooked before).
So Autism Speaks Canada is ceasing operations tomorrow and Spectrum 10K has closed today.
What a brilliant week for moving towards autistic liberation.
Congrats to @kmunday.bsky.social and all of us in autism community who helped to #StopSpectrum10K. Today the S10K team announced study's cancellation. See the report from Hopkins Van Mil and Karen Leneh Buckle, and a reflective blog by Simon Baron-Cohen: www.autismresearchcentre.com/projects/spe...
I am concerned however that the allure of so many squeakable rubber chickens may prove too much temptation for both my children and myself and the resulting cacophony may well lead to a serious accident.
Apparently there are multiple rubber chickens in a range of different colours. Naturally I have requested photos of these at the earliest possible opportunity and we are considering a family outing to see this phenomenon.
Important announcement: My mother has just informed me that there are small buses running in our local area which do not have bells any to let the driver know when people want to get off. One enterprising driver has solved this problem by installing rubber chickens for people to squeeze instead!
I appreciate the sentiment. Really I should work with my support workers to help me plan and get support to place orders ahead of time when I do things like this. Maybe even get them to go collect food for me.
Exactly this. Particularly when people believe they are doing good and you challenge their perspectives, they get extremely defensive
Yep, that tracks.
So even though I was chatting away quite happily to lots of people earlier, or rather because of this, I now can't physically manage the decision making and social interaction demands of placing a takeaway order.
I'm hungry having been too wired/stressed/anxious to eat properly today. I have no capacity left to cook when I get home. Ideally I'd get a takeaway but living rurally it's not possible to do this without using the phone or going in person.
Finally on train home. Giving off my best 'please leave me alone or I might cry or bite you' vibes. Contemplating how people likely perceive me as having low support needs when I'm standing up there speaking about my research but they don't see me at times like now.
