Important every day, but today feels like a particularly good day for sharing neuro-affirming educational films about autistic experiences.

Happy Thursday E-DLD followers! Today we are introducing one of our ECR Research Associates! Kyleigh’s social media handles: Instagram: @kylovestudying BlueSky: @kyleighmelville.bsky.social X: @MelvilleKyleigh LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kyleighmelville #devlangdis #DLD #ECR #researchassociate

My wonderful supervisor @katiecebula.bsky.social is running a Sibling Cafe for care experienced adults and supporters of care experienced individuals 🌱 Come along for a cosy chat with coffee/tea, and Tunnocks ☕️ 🍰 Friday 5th Sep 2-4 PM @ University of Edinburgh

Still recruiting participants for my online survey on experiences of using sensory rooms with neurodivergent / SEN / ASN students ! Especially keen to hear from school-based therapists 🎨 edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Fabulous research by Wassell (2025) about the importance of Autistic Joy & monotropism! "Autistic voices suggest that the key barrier to joyful experience is not autism itself but other people's lack of acceptance of authentic autistic behaviours such as stimming and pursuit of special interests."

It's time for a new kind of political party - one that belongs to you. Sign up at yourparty.uk.

📢 Recruiting participants for my PhD study! 🟢 Do you work in a school in the UK? 🟢 Do you work with neurodivergent and/or SEND or ASN students? 🟢 Does your school have a sensory room or therapy garden ? Chance to win a £50 voucher for your school! edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

We refuse to let co-production be co-opted. It is a complicated and unique process that involves the centring of Disabled voices and experiences - not as a tick box exercise, but making our experiences central to decision making. Some food for thought this #CoProWeek2025

Spent Canada Day recording my first podcast w/ Dr Hope Christie & Tooled Up Education on my research on multi-sensory environments, LEGO-Based Therapy and how my experience of teaching neurodivergent students inspired my research journey 🌈 Free to listen! creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

I had such a wonderful time at #NDAS2025 sharing my PhD work-in-progress with fellow researchers at @citystgeorges.bsky.social. There is so much excellent work going on in the realm neurodevelopmental psychology 🧠 Can’t wait for NDAS 2026 in Durham ✨

Still can’t believe it … I’m engaged ! ✨

📢 Still recruiting UK school staff who work with neurodivergent, SEND and ASN students and use multi-sensory environments. The survey’s designed with the support of a Lived Experience Advisory Group and there’s a prize draw to win a £50 voucher ! ⭐️ edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Are you: ⭐the parent of an autistic child and their neurotypical sibling (both 5 - 12 years & within 5 years of each other)? ⭐in Scotland? We are recruiting for a study looking at how parents support autistic children and their siblings to play together. More info/register interest: edin.ac/4mWJsrw

Happy Pride Month #cat #pride #pridemonth 🏳‍🌈

🚨Write to your MP to support the cross-party motion against benefit cuts! We are supporting Sian Berry MP's Early Day Motion calling on the Government to stop scapegoating Disabled people. ✍️Write to your MP and tell them to support EDM 949! Learn more 👇 www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/cross-p...

a new substack essay about writing for the fan-made lesbian dating sim #heygirliegame (set in the world of dimension 20’s fantasy high), the parasocial tendencies of readers, and why i’ll never use chatgpt. open.substack.com/pub/feidong/...

If you a care experienced adult (16+ years) in Scotland OR the supporter of a care experienced child/adult in Scotland (e.g. foster parent) join us online on Fri 30th May to talk about how sib relationships of care experienced people could be better supported. Sign up and more info: edin.ac/4cIYdcs

✨New blog post! ✨ Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Oaklands School and observe how this brilliant community of educators, therapists and support staff use multi-sensory environments with their students. Thank you @team-oaklands.bsky.social for having me, can’t wait to visit again soon!

My first conference ✅ Thank you @stir.ac.uk for the opportunity to talk about autism, LEGO and how centring the child in research and play as a tool for safety and empowerment, can make schools more than just places of learning, but places of belonging 🌈⭐️🤍

Ooo! You can watch my SmartyPants for free!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxMR...

📢Still recruiting participants! ✨UK school staff who work with neurodivergent, SEND and ASN students and use multi-sensory environments ✨Survey designed with the support of a Lived Experience Advisory Group ✨School prize draw to win a 50 GBP voucher 🏆 edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Loch Lomond in spring 🌱

Please enjoy these shelter pups reacting to getting a kiss. Some are bashful, some have butterflies, and all deserve approximately 10 million more. 14/10 for all

My friends are so cool 🥹

Are you a care experienced adult (16+ years) or the supporter of care experienced children/adults in Scotland (e.g. foster parent, residential carer)? If so, we invite you to come to one of our ‘Sibling Cafes’ in May (choice of in-person or an online). To sign up and for more info: edin.ac/4cIYdcs

The "mean" in "Greenwich Mean Time" actually means "mean" (like, average). I did not know this! To calculate GMT they took the position of the sun throughout the year and averaged it out to find the average solar noon in Greenwich and based the time on that!

Recruiting participants to fill in an anonymous online survey (15-20 mins) on school staff experiences using multi-sensory environments with neurodivergent students. Participants can opt in to win their school a 50£ voucher. Survey open until 5/30/2025 🔗: edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Curricular integration of augmentative and alternative communication for students on the autism spectrum in inclusive-oriented schools: A scoping review journals.sagepub.com...

Sunday vibes.

To share my research progress with members of the public, I’ve created a blog! I’ve written a personal reflection on my lived experience as an educator-turned-researcher in autism as my way to celebrate Autism Awareness Day 2025 🌈 multisensoryenvironmentsneurodiversity.wordpress.com/2025/04/02/r...

I know the world is crazy right now but my high school squad is trying to raise money for our amazing friend Michelle who is going to cycle for the @baycrestfoundation.bsky.social who specialize in supporting people with Alzheimer’s & Dementia 🧠 If you are able, please consider donating 🤍

🌼🔔🌈

Can’t believe that it’s been 6 months since I started my PhD 🤯 As I wait to get ethical approval for my first study, I’m catching up on readings on background theory, putting a lived experience advisory group together (SO EXCITING) and enjoying the start of spring in my little Scottish town 🌸

Just fyi: A new book will make you feel better

Take a second. Think about something you did today. No matter how big or small. And tell yourself how proud you are of you. Really mean it. 💜

I am so excited to be presenting MY FIRST WEBINAR for the wonderful playincluded.com on April 3rd from 12:30-1:30 🎉 I will be presenting my research on autistic students’ experiences with LEGO-Based Therapy 🌈 Register here: playincluded.com/courses/regi...

Considering the impact of alexithymia alongside autism with Geoff Bird (2-May-2024) #CRAEwebinar #archive www.youtube.com/watc...

‘Like it’s making my heart run’: A strengths-based understanding of the play of autistic children journals.sagepub.com...

babel by r.f. kuang? dimension 20’s the unsleeping city part ii? in MY #BookReview of queer SFF novel METAL FROM HEAVEN by august clarke?? more likely than you think @erewhonbooks.bsky.social feidong.ca/2024/12/24/r...

very proud to be writing on something very fun for fans of #dimension20 #fantasyhigh, dating sims, and bees! #heygirliegame heygirliegame.carrd.co full contributor list below:

Nine Minds with Daniel Tammet (8-Jul-24) #CRAEwebinar #archive www.youtube.com/watc...

How can we make therapy better for autistic adults? Autistic adults’ ratings of helpfulness of adaptations to therapy journals.sagepub.com...

Nomad pots🌿✨

So many of you asked for it, that I made it. THE BIRD TIER LIST IS NOW LIVE! youtu.be/2oNb_jJynsE?...

Hands up everyone who zooms in on every picture posted with a bookshelf in the background to check out the books

As best you can, ignore him.

My MEd thesis has been published 🥳 ! This project about LEGO, social-emotional wellbeing in school and autism will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you to my wonderful students for sharing their experiences with so much joy and candour 🤍 doi.org/10.17863/CAM...

#CRAEWebinar Tōjisha-Kenkyū is the Japanese idea of 'the science of the self'. Join Prof Kumagaya & Dr Ayaya from the Uni of Tokyo at 9am GMT on 6th Feb for thier introduction to this way of researching autism. Booking: https://bit.ly/TKatCRAE

New paper alert (and a bit of a must read) The Theory of Mind Hypothesis of Autism: A Critical Evaluation of the Status Quo Long, Catmur, & Bird (2025) doi.org/10.1037/rev0...

Hello! I wrote about my favourite novella of Fall 2024: "In COUNTESS, the titular character is no one-woman army, and the revolution is not made-for-TV sensational ... But Virika’s story has an undeniably important message: Revolution is a group assignment." feidong.ca/2024/11/02/r...