Looking forward to being a part of this virtual panel on disability culture and musical identity at #Berklee College of Music today! www.berklee.edu/accessibilit...

I once described the goal of my creative process in general and my certainty-seeking ASK ALL THE THINGS queries to performers in particular as "turning infodumping into auditory stim" 😂

I think this was very much me playing with the MIDI sounds of the harp after being inspired by demonstrations of this specific low-mid register in Danielle's harp writing guide, and then checking in with her on whether I'd added anything unidiomatic. It absolutely felt like the process of stimming

I have been trying to persuade myself to write music that is explicitly conceived as being pleasing to my senses, something I've only managed a couple of times - here's an example for solo harp that I wrote for/with the assistance of @daniellekuntzharp.bsky.social youtu.be/lwPqCtcs9nI

Catching up on the recordings of the talks I couldn't attend at the Critical Neurodiversity Studies conference from last week. This conference was an epitome of accessibility, from being fully hybrid (including ways for online attendees to network with in person ones)... 1/

In case you missed it, a presentation by our Director Beatriz López. @drstevenkapp.bsky.social, and @eminegurbuz.bsky.social delivered a good practice research showcase on Creating an inclusive research culture for neurodivergent researchers, as part of the Uni's Research Culture Connect-Fest.

As Autism Acceptance Month (AAM) comes to a close, with disability benefits internationally under threat, here is a summary of my papers since the last AAM to demonstrate autism acceptance means recognizing and supporting disability, rather than weaponization/co-option ('neurodiversity-lite'). 1/

Here's the video of my 6/26 conversation on "Neuroqueering Somatics," hosted by the International Somatic Movement Education & Therapy Association. #neuroqueer #neuroqueering #neurodiversity #somatics #psychology #consciousness #cognition #awareness #embodiment www.youtube.com/watch?v=RItP...

I’m all for neurodivergent-friendly hours at the shop, where they stop the music, make the tills quiet, etc. Hell, I would prefer that myself But ffs if you do this for only one hour a week, between 12 and 13 on a MONDAY… screw off with the performative activism

No matter what the results of tonight's vote please remember that your life has value no matter how much 'work' you can do and no matter what the ableist pricks in government tell you! YOU ARE NOT A BURDEN! WE ARE NOT A BURDEN! #TakingThePIP #DisabledRights #WelfareNotWarfare

I'm on The Autistic Culture Podcast, discussing Autistic creativity with @angelakingdon.bsky.social! @autisticculture.bsky.social Listen on any podcast platform. Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5erU... Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/p... #AutisticCulture #MusicalNeuroqueering

SICK IS NOT LAZY! Fuck Labour, these amendments are not an improvement, delaying the life-threatening cuts for existing claimants doesn't make them OK! #UKPolitics #TakingThePIP #DisabledRights

I had a great time today discussing Autistic creative processes with @angelakingdon.bsky.social for @autisticculture.bsky.social, brainstorming ways to reclaim the joy of our sensory experiences through creative practice. #ActuallyAutistic What are your ways of doing that? #MusicalNeuroqueering

Inspired by the fabulous conference hosted by @ndhumanities.bsky.social here is a new starter pack of researchers, advocates and organisations all working hard to make the world a better place for Neurodivergent/ Disabled and other marginalised communities. Space for more go.bsky.app/6ftC1uS

Great day today at our Critical Neurodiversity Studies Conference! Highlights included a keynote from Lisa Johnson and Liorah Hoek & Sanne van Driel’s workshop on what understanding experiences of plural identities can bring to critical neurodiversity studies. The Sensory Den was also a real hit!

I had a great time this afternoon presenting my collaboration with Niamh Gallagher as part of a fascinating panel on arts-based practices in neurodiversity research! Looking forward to another exciting day tomorrow at the Critical Neurodiversity Studies conference @durhamimh.bsky.social

the Critical Neurodiversity Studies Conference @durhamimh.bsky.social starts tomorrow! Wishing I could attend literally every talk/panel/workshop. I’ll be speaking about why critical media studies is essential to a critical turn in neurodiversity studies - catch me on the Digital panel tomorrow 🤸!

A warm welcome to everyone joining us today in Durham for Critical Neurodiversity Studies: Directions/Intersections/Contradictions! ndhumanities.com/wp-content/u...

Not every passion must be mined for teachable moments. Gem Clutton explains that for children with monotropic attention profiles, which are widely understood within autistic communities as a core feature of autistic cognition, this approach can easily go astray. loom.ly/8TEBOJM

J.K. Rowling is a menace to society whose anti-trans rhetoric is violent and encourages offline violence. Her telling people to take pictures of suspected trans women in bathrooms and disseminate them is sexual harassment. And it puts everyone in the women’s bathroom in danger.

Still time to book some online tickets for this conference! I'm thrilled to be presenting there tomorrow (24/06) alongside some absolutely incredible people!

Yes I agree... I wrote this a couple of weeks ago. Feels relevant to share and add to this discussion: autisticrealms.com/the-power-of...

"go chat with other scientists!" is common advice, which can yield great exchanges w/ just the right ppl, but is always stressful for me and has to happen at just the right time... I feel much more nimble diving thru literature on my own, so I can follow hunches, take notes, switch gears on a whim

In research, I definitely feel most comfortable + creative when I have an open ended question with just the right level of challenge (I really enjoy "what missing info helps me reconcile x contradictions in my data/ the field") AND the time + space to wander in the literature by myself...

I’m comfortable when I’m feeling safe - sensory wise and where I am / who I’m with how i can communicate / move. I generally prefer being online or by myself for all these reasons - going with my own (monotropic!) flow !

Very much, I love to write having Jasmine Tea, lounging on my sofa, listening to inspiring tunes (mostly one on repeat), getting as relaxed as I can, letting myself focus on the here and now, allowing my thoughts to take any shape they need to.

Some neurodivergent people love “stimming” through music, tapping, or rocking because it helps their brain feel calm. Fact or Fiction? #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #Neurospicy #Autism #ADHD #AuDHD #TouretteSyndrome #tourette #disorder #ocd #dyslexia #asd #Dyspraxia

Birmingham people (UK) - I'm looking for venue ideas for a music project with a small group of young neurodivergent people! Near Birmingham city centre, preferably carpeted with dimmable lights or even a sensory space. Thursdays, from 4-7pm, from July. Budget for room hire. Any ideas? Thank you

We also heard from learning design colleagues at Falmouth University, who are doing important work to make learning in the creative arts more accessible to neurodivergent students; and a collaboration between PhD students exploring embodiment and sensory experience in music.

We were having so much fun yesterday at the Creativity, Creative Arts and Neurodivergence conference we forgot to post about the rest of the sessions! We enjoyed hearing about Lou Barnell's performance work with Jennifer, a wearable instrument that responds to her voice and body movements.

Alice Wong (2025) describes her use of AAC to combat ableism:"Nonspeaking people belong in public, holding court in conversations, doing our thing, our access needs respected, and being our full selves unapologetically" Free @aacjournal.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0743... @sfdirewolf.bsky.social

Now 99 universities officially making redundancies, and I've heard of a few more to take us over the 100 mark. If I were a student, I'd be 'shocked and offended' by that more than anything else. Still nothing is done. qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...

Asking my fellow Neurodivergent creatives: what does comfort mean to you in your creative process? And is that important to you? #ActuallyAutistic #NeurodivergentMusic #AutisticCulture #NeurodivergentArt #Neurodivergent #MusicalNeuroqueering #Neurodiversity

Autistic culture often means being sensitive to sounds, but what KINDS of sounds vary from person to person deep booming repetitive bass can be calming or torturous, depending on the person &/OR the context of the day, for example

Happy #AutisticPrideDay! Autistic creatives, what are some of your favourite sensory experiences that inform your practice? #ActuallyAutistic #NeurodivergentMusic #AutisticCulture #AutisticArt #MusicalNeuroqueering #Neurodiversity

The Embodied Stimming Wheel - a concept developed in collaboration with Niamh Gallagher, to create a sonic world based on our embodied experiences as #neurodivergent and #disabled musicians. We’re presenting it at two conferences, details in quoted post! #NeurodivergentMusic #MusicalNeuroqueering

Presenting two papers this week and the next, with my fab collaborator Niamh Gallagher! Both are free and hybrid, and a limited number of online tickets are still available 👇🏻 #ActuallyAutistic #NeurodivergentMusic #AutisticCulture #MusicalNeuroqueering #Neurodiversity

Resharing my starter pack of neuro-affirming Autistic advocates, orgs and charities if you are looking for a good list of people to follow go.bsky.app/9N5UEUC

This isn’t a "mindset" issue. It’s what happens when the world teaches you to ignore every signal that comes from within. We were taught to perform calm instead of feel panic. To smile instead of cry. To say “I’m fine” before we even knew what we felt.

this is not an exaggeration

A good article about understanding yourself a little better than you did the day before. Also a reminder that autistic people were always there, it's just that many of us - including many autistic folks - didn't have a vocabulary or medical knowledge to describe it. observer.co.uk/news/first-p...

🏳️‍⚧️ Now 41 UK MPs celebrate @transhistoryweek.com and encouraging “efforts to protect Trans+ rights” 41 UK MPs sign parliamentary motion to celebrate Trans+ History Week and encouraging “efforts to protect Trans+ rights” 🧵👇

Got into a fight with a NURSE who we asked to give us a little distance when we were at a picnic table eating. We told her we’re were trying to be Covid safe because I’m at risk. She said I should have just stayed home. I said at risk people should be socially isolated and lonely AND SHE SAID YES

RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz ,et al, are just perpetuating the pernicious ableism that everyone with a chronic condition/disability (especially the dynamic ones) knows: Ppl think that when you get sick/injured, you either get better or you die. Ongoing? They can't understand...🧵 1/...

Any politician who wants to ban migration for care homes should be forced to wait 9 hours for the toilet. I imagine pandering to anti-immigration groups would then feel as painful and illogical as it does to disabled and older people left without care workers. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Autistic Lexicon Hyper & Hypo Senses Autistic ppl are significantly predisposed to have senses (or “subsenses”) that are significantly more or less sensitive than is typical. This is the only diagnosable-Autistic-trait-category that isn’t dismissible as behavioral.

🔊 #NowPlaying on #BBCRadio3: #MusicMatters - Harmony in Neurodiversity Soprano Elizabeth Watts and cellist Elisabeth Wiklander explore neurodivergence and music. ▶️ Relisten on BBCSounds

Fascism starts as soon as they say, "These people don't have any rights." Soon it is everybody.

It starts at demonising in the media. Make a certain group look subhuman and suddenly nobody cares when you take their human rights away. Happened throughout history and it works every time because humans are fucking stupid.