Masking autism is minimizing or hiding your physical traits of autism. Like learning how to minimize your stims or not talk about your special interests. Internalizing autism is what happens after you mask (sometimes, not always)...

Paul’s driving test woes. Pffft. I crashed into a parked car on my first driving test. #TheArchers

Morning all! Myself and my sprained MCL are waiting for Tai Chi at this unearthly hour! Hope you have a good day. #Rehab #EDS

Jingle Bell Ball reaction from my husband: ‘is he really singing ‘she’s so sweet, lemonade?’ Can’t we have some ‘flies on the windscreen’ or something?

Word of the day, should you be feeling a little huffish, is ‘apanthropy’ (18th century): a love of solitude and the desire to be away from other people.

The work of Melissa Cody, 4th generation, contemporary Navajo weaver #WomensArt

Lovely new physio confirmed MCL sprain and added a Baker’s cyst (same knee). Also recommended a silicone thing that you freeze to make an ice ball. Bless her. There is no way I’ll remember to freeze/refreeze it, make space in the freezer for it, or use it if I have to put down towels.

#Oddsock Today would like everyone in the UK to know whilst deaf children get access to sign language through LAs. We don't universally give sign language training to PARENTS and often they pay out of pocket to communicate with kids. Oddsock feels this is stupid and unfair.

@ka81.bsky.social thought of you today (I was at physio). How’s that gnarly hip of yours?

I’m at the ‘need to play ear-piercing Depeche Mode’ stage of Friday afternoon marking.

Knock me down with a feather, but I’ve just seen an absolute treasure of an NHS physio. #EDS

AI pedagogy update! I let my science students use AI (I do not let my creative writing students use it) but I ask them to write reflections on ethical use and we go over how it gets things wrong Trends I’m seeing this semester: 1) highest grades are still going to the students who don’t use it

I will definitely be double-checking the transcription on my series of screencasts. Our students are often MASTERS of time.

#Autism #ADHD #AuDHD #neurodiversity 💡 #weirdos 💡 Shine brightly!!! 😃

I generally feel happy when I see other people enjoying themselves. Except maybe when they’re next to me in the pool, singing full blast along to the aqua-aerobics track, mainly in a different key to the artist.

“People tend to think of #neurodivergence as something that lives in the #brain ..But for many #neurodivergent women — myself included — the experience doesn’t stop at the #mind. It lives in the body. It flares up in #ChronicIllness.": buff.ly/IgJ6CYP by @vikkyleaney.bsky.social

Last year our t’ai chi instructor gave the class aloe vera ‘pups’ from his old plant. Everyone killed theirs, apart from me. Mine’s taken over the house. I’ve potted up 10 more ‘pups’ from it and the class are getting another one each for Christmas. Whether they like it or not!

This discussion around mental health diagnosis is grinding my gears. The problem is constantly placed wholly within the person. What about the context? What has happened within society?

Two proper letters from old friends today. What a lovely thing.

I’m waiting for my haircut and I’m going to have to stop listening to WATO on radio 4. Ableism abounds and is making me feel queasy. ‘The language of psychiatry has escaped psychiatry.’ Good. Knowledge is power.

They do know autism and adhd aren't mental health conditions don't they ? Don't they ?

I feel like Mr Benn this morning. Editing 11 screencasts for work, originally made over 7 days. Amazing how hairstyles, outfits and make-up differs from day to day. I guess I like variety!

#BskyHelp, please? I have MS, and I need to find shoes with VERY VERY SOFT soles, even more than for diabetic neuropathy! Does anyone know of such shoes (thermally insulated too)? I'd be REALLY grateful for your help here. A boost wouldn't go amiss either. Thanks! 🙏😃

Family still asleep. My set-up is upstairs. I need to get working. I have to use voice to text.

Really interesting thread. It’s something I’ve worked with students around study habits. A good song on repeat/repeating sounds to help make a familiar and pleasant environment to work in.

Oof. I'm hypermobile, my kids are hypermobile, we come from a long line of hypermobile people. The more I read about the many associated, but often vague, symptoms, the more I realise how many hEDS boxes I tick. Oh, and the lack of medical interest in any of it, least of all joining the dots

Artist: @twisteddoodles.bsky.social

Olay Christmas ad opening line: ‘Do you want to radiate this Christmas?’ Made me laugh aloud. That can be achieved without the input of Olay, given their target audience! Better rephrased: ‘Do you want to look radiant.’ #menopause

Trying something new to improve engagement and having ‘fun’ with permissions on Clipchamp. Son (22): ‘You’re sending students videos? More likely to put them off once they’ve seen you.’

Is there an autistic person in your household? Are you a family member/carer & feeling utterly worn down by society's barriers? Looking for excellent info from kind people, & a chance to meet with peers for support? www.autismcentral.org.uk is our team. NHS funded. Fabulous. Please share. Thanks

Japanese embroidery artist Hiroko Kubota, known for her work highlighting cats #WomensArt

Morning me: well, no joint issues after 2.5 hours in the dental chair yesterday, that’s very strange but go me! Evening me: aaaand there it is. #EhlersDanlos

Like “Teacher of Autistic kids” a common “Oh … I’m Autistic” occupation is “Instruction Writer”

Amazing EDS aware consultant today. WITHOUT prompting he asked if I was ‘one of those where lidocaine doesn’t work’ and gave the post-grad working on me 101 on Ehlers Danlos and the need to take care.

This is an extremely busy hospital dentistry department. People are rocking up 25 minutes late, without apologising and then kicking off when they are told they can’t be seen.

Alison Holt, contemporary textile artist who creates machine and hand embroidered artworks #WomensArt

I can taste decaying tooth pulp, so that’s nice. 🤢 Thank goodness for dental hospitals. I’m there at 9am tomorrow.

The employment market is dire for young people, even in Greater London. Whilst I agree with the principle behind the plan, I can’t see that increasing the minimum wage right now will help the situation.

The perils of teaching online this evening - I became very distracted by my own fringe, which I chopped with kitchen scissors in a fit of pique earlier today.

Reminding everyone that reasonable adjustments are a legal right under the Equality Act (and Autism Act) regardless of where you work. Accodomations aren't just nice to have or stop when it's inconvenient to a NT way of doing things, as we can't just stop being disabled...surprisingly.

I love crows and I love magpies. Just as well, as I overdid the indigo henna this evening and am looking quite Corvid-esque

Eldest is abroad on a stag weekend. Hard not to worry a bit, even though he’s a grown up. Latest text… they’re all off to a museum. The ‘kids’ are alright.

It's a good'un

Warning - a book plug coming up! Have neurodivergent students in your household or away at uni? Maybe, you work in SEND. If so, my practical, pick n’ mix guide to study skills could be a good Christmas gift. Also available at Waterstones and Foyles. www.amazon.co.uk/Study-Skills...

Late 50s and just starting to realise things about my brain. I find group exercise stressful. I thought that’s because it hurts (no dramas, just EDS). Yesterday traffic made me late so I ended up in the corner (like cubby-hole). Most chilled I’ve ever felt in a class. Reduced stimuli!

Tad jaded this morning and only just at my desk. Worth it, though - went to see Othello at the Haymarket last night. Toby Jones’ Iago is skin-crawlingly villainous. Magnificent.

Welsh born textile artist and knitwear designer Kate Jenkins creates fun crochet/knit creations #WomensArt

I was the first in my entire family attend university, and I have a big family. I did it at 28 and noone understood how it worked at all. I was the first much later the first get a masters and hopefully soon I'll be the first PhD. After me I helped my sister go, did my brothers forms.

I wonder how many people die each year as a result of lifeguards running in slow motion

Artist and designer Sonia Delaunay, Coat made for Gloria Swanson, 1923-24 #WomensArt