Really cool interview caught this morning from @thinkingautism.com Believing in Nonspeakers and Communication Rights share.google/MA3qXvW3RmnW...

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...

Further discussions about swimming in the sea today. Autistic son says he loves having a break from apraxia and feels that his body is developed to be in the water. I have strong suspicions that he was a seal in a former life!

1. A story. Please read. Reposts hugely appreciated on this. You'll see why in a bit. I was born in Pakistan and lived there until I was 4. My parents worked there as doctors. While we were there we were very close to a couple called Christine and Mike Miles.

On holiday currently and my non-speaking autistic son was having difficulty getting into the sea despite wanting to have a swim. We discussed his anxieties and practised some mindfulness and hey presto he had a lovely swim. Never underestimate the gift of communication ❤️

Exciting research to enhance communication amongst non-speaking autistic people using AR spectrum.ieee.org/nonverbal-au...

Beyond Vikram Jaswal's @craeioe.bsky.social talk on supporting nonspeaking autistic ppl's flourishing (recording below), Vikram collaborated w/ nonspeakers to design augmented reality communication technology "The quest to ensure nonspeaking autistic ppl are heard" spectrum.ieee.org/nonverbal-au...

Exciting research to enhance communication amongst non-speaking autistic people using AR spectrum.ieee.org/nonverbal-au...

Q1. What are your top three priorities for Autism Research? A.1. Providing support for for autistics who don’t use spoken language, their families, and all the professionals who work with them.

New editorial in @journalautism.bsky.social with @yesthattoo.bsky.social @jordynbzim.bsky.social and @bettyyu.bsky.social where we argue that "nonverbal" and "minimally verbal" are not useful constructs for grouping or describing autistic people. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Just in case you missed it, last week's #CRAElecture is now available on YouTube: Supporting nonspeaking autistic people's flourishing using collaborative cognitive science, with Vikram Jaswal youtu.be/qnVs5u2S8bA

Supporting an advocate the same age as my eldest son today. We had loads to chat about - A levels that weren’t taken, online university lectures etc but boy does that make me feel old!

Fabulous lecture from Vikram. The Matty J referred to in the chat is our very own @mattythenonspeaker.bsky.social

It’s still not too late to get yourself a ticket to listen to Vikram Jaswal on Supporting nonspeaking autistic people’s flourishing. This Thursday at 6pm GMT Link: www.eventbrite.co.uk...

“I’ll be as bold as Attlee” Keir Starmer promised on the eve of the last general election, telling the Big Issue magazine that “I ran a public service during austerity, I saw the impact of the Tories’ decisions. There will be no return to austerity with a Labour Government.”

Ravel Reeves thinks she is facing an economic crisis. She’s wrong. She and Labour are facing a political crisis that demands that she spends. But will she realise that? youtu.be/b6EEzOofQbM?...

#DisabilityBenefits cuts will cost more in every way. “For every pound that someone loses in benefits, you know that – if a council has to step in to cover the shortfall – it’s about £1.50 additional impact”- Disability Policy Centre. Important piece by @cjayanetti.bsky.social tinyurl.com/3vun5uz8

Thinking about this today…

The video of Trump’s deportees arriving in El Salvador is horrific. This is 21st century Nazism. Identities concealed, trafficked to a foreign labour camp. No due process, no evidence of crime. Dehumanised. Where is the global outrage? The crime is historic; the normalisation catastrophic.

We’re only two months in, & they’re cancelling research into pediatric brain cancer. They’re deporting US kids with brain cancer. They’re putting millions at risk of malaria, TB, & polio. I for one will never forgive or forget those who said ‘it won’t be that bad’. 😡

After watching ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix, this article hits home. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Meeting with a friend’s 5 year old son on Monday - he’s very bright. What do boys read? #Edusky

The Tesla boycott is one of the easier campaigns to support. Happy to report I didn’t buy a single Tesla again this week.

Word of the day is ‘whiffling’ (17th century): fickle, inconstant, and making it up as you go along.

In other breaking news, magnolias are in full bloom around here.

Another awful reminder this week, that the greatest risk to people with social care needs is our offer of safety socialworkcatsandrocketscience.com/2024/02/16/t...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 45 years inside for, er, being autistic. Remind me what the worst criminals get?...

When your words come back to haunt you after you sold your soul to the Devil. Slava Ukraini and Fxxk Trump.

Charlie doesn’t look too perturbed by the lack of a suit!

Starmer says that he won’t reveal the contents of his conversation with Trump last night but says he wouldn’t be proposing what he’s proposing unless he thought it had a chance of his backing.

Anorexia, the Court of Protection and the changing calculus of decision-making: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk/anorexia-the...

The scenes in the Oval Office today will shame the US for decades. They’ll never be forgotten. A world leader, fighting for his country against the 21st century’s Nazis, came to the US and was attacked & abused by a gangster regime siding with the fascist invaders. A historic disgrace.

I want everyone to know that screaming match in the Oval Was all for Russia TV that was there

I say let him come and we will show him an equally disgusting welcome.

Word of the day is ‘huff-snuff’ (16th century): a hectoring bully or braggart.

I cannot believe Trump and Vance. Disgusting behaviour.

Thanks to @joshhalliday.bsky.social for reporting on our story. A change of environment to a hospital rather than your home doesn’t mean your caring responsibilities disappear, they actually increase. Carers allowance (& PIP) should not stop when in hospital, as we are still there, still caring

I love these slides from #Neuroclastic talking about autonomy versus independence. Whilst many non-speakers will never achieve full independence, with an emphasis on teaching communication, they can achieve full autonomy. neuroclastic.com/wp-content/u...

Inequalities are so entrenched! It’s heartbreaking.

If you care for or educate a nonspeaking autistic person, you'll want to join this free online event. Dr Jaswal is leading the way in better understanding the language and literacy abilities of nonspeaking autistic people.

Funny one this - it's kinda sketchbook 14 and 15 simultaneously..... youtu.be/GbNZ9-3b5U4?...

'Painfully slow and totally inadequate’—Concerns about restraint in Witherslack schools were raised years ago, yet action has only come now. Families say children have been left traumatized. How many more need to be harmed before real accountability? #RestraintForRevenue inews.co.uk/news/educati...

A must-watch film featuring Matty. Every nonspeaker deserves access to robust communication tools and the right support to use them.

My son Matt has really enjoyed working on a #TransformationalTales project with #TeachUsToo. The projects seeks to demonstrate the transformational affects of teaching literacy skills to non-speakers. Shared with his consent #AAC #SEND #Autism

My piece reflecting on life, love, loss and learning disabilities following the death of my daughter www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic...

Happening now in Boston!! A massive anti-Trump rally calling for an end to Elon’s coup and billionaires controlling our government. This is AMAZING to see.

Nothing much is getting better … @nihrsscr.bsky.social

Going well

@dmdav.bsky.social would you be able to offer any advice/signpost someone to someone who has suffered discrimination in a university? Are there any advocates who specialise in disability in university?