From #Aucademy
“Profound” Misunderstanding: Why The Lancet Commission on Autism & The Guardian Got It Wrong
aucademy.co.uk/2026/02/19/c...
#autism #neurodiversity
How can autistic people recover from short-turn autistic burnout? @mx-joyner.bsky.social has very specific, tried-and-true strategies that might help you or your autistic loved one, at TPGA (and yes this includes kids and adults with high support needs).
thinkingautismguide.com/2025/10/we-g...
A critique of “consensus” in autism research—how inclusion becomes performance, power remains untouched, and cure rhetoric persists. Yet amid it all, autistic-led scholarship rises—quiet, defiant, building truth brick by brick
open.substack.com/pub/autside/...
Steve Silberman is so pissed about this Tylenol bullshit that he's screaming from the afterlife he didn't even believe in.
Increased rates of autism are due to testing, a broadened definition, and greater awareness. It's not vaccines. It's not Tylenol.
It's like his work never happened.
Three incredible books and writers, for when you allow yourself to step back from screaming at the world:
Death of the Author, by @nnedi.bsky.social.
The Book of Love, by @kellylink.bsky.social
Indiginerds, edited by @alinapete.bsky.social
What are your current three "take me away" reads?
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Explore 10 key ideas for neuro-affirming practice.
Building neurodivergent competency means creating safety & belonging. Inspired by David…
https://autisticrealms.com/creating-autistic-safety-and-belonging-10-ideas-for-neurodivergent-competency/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
My research, "‘It's Really Who They Are and What They Want’: Staff Perspectives on Supporting Autonomy for Autistic Adults With Intellectual Disabilities", has been published! Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/jar.... #publishedarticle @wileyinresearch
To anyone who is NOT #autistic, you need to know this.
A person can be an #autist AND an #arsehole, but one does not cause the other! This is true no matter what defence lawyers (or the gutter press) tell you. #Autism does not make you saint or sinner; you do that yourself.
#GreggWallace #ElonMusk
Repost if you’re still calling it the Gulf of Mexico. ✋🏽
With @michealsandbank.bsky.social @shanclapoint.bsky.social @jhinsonwilliams.bsky.social @yueyangshen.bsky.social Ruoxi Guo, and Tiffany Woynaroski
We conclude that, because of a lack of appropriate conceptualization of what constitutes "problem behavior" and poorly validated measures, we know very little about how interventions might support autistic children who engage in behavior that could be harmful to themselves or others. 4/4
and all but one measure mixed together behaviors that were inherently harmful (e.g., aggression) and behaviors that were nonnormative but not inherently harmful (e.g., hand flapping). 3/4
and only 8% of studies defined the behavior construct they targeted. For the most common "problem behavior" measures, only two were validated along six different validation dimensions in autistic children, 2/4
Curious about how autism intervention researchers define and measure "problem behavior"? We examined 102 intervention studies with young autistic children and found that only 1/3 of studies give a reason for targeting the behavior they aim to reduce, 1/4
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Preorder Science Under Siege
www.amazon.com/Science-Unde...
Angela WelzAlbertans United To Stop The UCP sSodrenopt94a9733c049if278tfh22i886f1i13utl7l809m22llct464lg · 5 Manipulation Tactics Premier Danielle Smith Uses 1. Victimhood Framing She paints Alberta as a victim of Ottawa - saying billions are taken, jobs are lost, and opportunities are stolen. > Why it's manipulative: It makes people feel attacked, even when the situation is more complex. It turns federal policies into personal betrayals, which increases anger and fear. 2. Scapegoating the Federal Government She blames almost every problem - economy, jobs, investment, inflation - on Ottawa, > Why it's manipulative: It simplifies complex issues and deflects attention from what her own government could be doing better. It makes one easy enemy, the feds. 3. Us vs. Them Language She divides Canadians into good Albertans vs. out-of-touch eastern elites, freedom-loving citizens vs, interfering bureaucrats. > Why it's manipulative: It creates tribal loyalty, making people suspicious of outsiders or those who disagree. It makes unity look like weakness and division look like a strength. 4. Emotional Extremes She uses strong emotional words like 'attacks', 'crippling , 'ravaged,' and 'hostile. > Why it's manipulative: This ramps up fear and urgency, When people are scared or angry, they stop questioning - and follow the strongest voice in the room. 5. Pretending to Be the Only Reasonable Voice She says she respects both separatists and federalists and just wants "a fair deal." She seems moderate - while planting radical ideas (like separation) as "understandable." > Why it's manipulative: It disguises hardline rhetoric as balanced. It allows her to push extreme positions without taking full responsibility. These tactics appeared in Danielle Smith's May 5th speech to Albertans.
~5 Manipulation Tactics Premier Danielle Smith Uses
These tactics appeared in Danielle Smith's May 5th speech to Albertans.
Really thrilled to be able to announce this! Writing this with Robert has been a huge honour and I can’t wait to hear what readers think of it.
"I want parents to learn what disability advocates taught me, what I wish I had known before my son’s diagnosis: that autistic people have always been part of our societies, & are valuable human beings who deserve unqualified love, acceptance, & access to supports."
www.buzzfeed.com/shannonrosa/...
@drstevenkapp.bsky.social's panel at International Society for Autism Research on Neurodivergence-affirming research practices for autistic people w/ high support needs illustrates relevance of neurodiversity framework for people w/ significant disabilities - an important principle of our MSc course
Question: How can we include autistic people with high support needs who also have motor difficulties that can interfere with some forms of successful AAC use?
Sutherland: Simpler methods like PECs can help. But important to acknowledge that some people don't yet have successful AAC.
#INSAR2025
An excellent website full of Holly's excellent PhD work, presentations & publications:
Sutherland: when they've talked to care providers, they find out via that they actually do share goals with the #neurodiversity paradigm. And then the research speaks for itself, because it's addressing those shared goals.
#INSAR2025
Grateful for your live skeeting!
Completely agree with Blasko and Jaswal: Access to AAC is a human rights issue for non-speaking and semi-speaking Autistic people.
#INSAR2025
Now Q&A (though we have to leave in 5 min for #AutINSAR prep, darn it).
First question: How do we overcome the manufactured divide of #ProfoundAutism?
#INSAR2025
Blasko: (using AAC in real time) I hope the questions are kind, and I have strong feelings but I am respectful [*got up to pace*] of all perspectives.
#INSAR2025
Blasko using AAC: "I hope the questions are kind, and I habe strong feelings, and I am respectful of all perspectives."
#INSAR2025
Jaswal and Blasko highlight the importance of ensuring that no autistic person with high support needs is left behind in research.
THIS is the discussion that I would have expected in a SIG about research priorities for autistic people with HSN. We need more authentic representation.
#INSAR2025
Chat GPT state that participation in research involves:
- communication skills
- critical thinking
- collaboration
- self-advocacy
Therefore, autistic people with HSN need to have formal & informal opportunities to learn & develop these skills to address the gatekeeping that exists.
#INSAR2025
Jaswal highlights the potential harm that not including autistic people with HSN can (and does) have.
Blasko & Jaswal highlight that there is a need for going further than accommodations, but true involvement is providing opportunities to enable HSN autistic people to participate.
#INSAR2025
