Today is the International Day of Hope. 12th July. A day to recognise hope as something real and active, a force that moves people forward, that builds communities, and that holds people together when systems fail them.

July is South Asian Heritage Month, and this year's theme is Unity in Diversity. A celebration of the extraordinary breadth of South Asian communities and the values, histories, and connections that weave through them.

SEMA and ARGH Scotland have come together to offer a free 8-week post-diagnosis and identification support course for Autistic adults in Scotland. Funded by Inspiring Scotland and built entirely by Autistic people, for Autistic people.

Today is #WorldRefugeeDay. This year's theme is "Until Everyone Is Safe," marking 75 years since the 1951 Geneva Convention, the agreement that established the right to seek safety and protection. At SEMA, we think about what "safe" really means.

Today, 19th June, is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. A day to honour survivors, demand accountability, and acknowledge that the impact of sexual violence reaches far beyond the moment it occurs.

SEMA and ARGH Scotland have created a FREE 8-week post-diagnosis/identification support course, specifically designed for Scottish racialised Autistic adults. FULL DETAILS: sema.scot/training-ses...

“You’re not normal” No that wasn’t me being told, but instead me telling a neurotypical attendee at a recent training session. “You are female, Brown, wear hijab. Therefore, you are not normal. Normal is when you are a white man” [cis]

More than 1 billion people across the world are living with mental health conditions, according to new figures from the World Health Organization. Behind that number are real people trying to get through each day while feeling unseen, unsupported, exhausted, or overwhelmed.

Many thanks for everyone who voted! Your support & appreciation means a lot to us as a small new org. We have far to travel and sometimes the journey feels overwhelming, but its the support from loved ones, friends, colleagues & our community that keeps us going. Our cause is bigger than us.

Just a reminder that voting for the 2026 National Diversity Awards closes in 2 days. If our work has supported or helped you in any way, we’d really appreciate your vote. Every single one means a lot to us 💛 Vote here: www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/awards-2026/... Thank you for all.

During the community training sessions with RISE FV last week, I mentioned mental health quite a few times. Not be because autism is a mental health condition. Not because being Autistic automatically means you will have a mental health difficulty. No.

We’re so honoured to have been nominated for this year’s NDA26. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us 💛 If our work has helped or supported you in any way, we’d really appreciate your vote. Voting closes on May 13th. Vote here: www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/awards-2026/...

We’ve put together a short animated video exploring what Pervasive Drive for Autonomy can feel like, both on the outside and from within. Sometimes it might look like: • avoiding or delaying things • struggling with everyday demands 👇🧵

This month, we shared a special video series as part of our Autism Acceptance Month work, focusing on community education in Urdu with English subtitles. Through this series, we explored a simple but powerful question: What is Autism? 👇🧵

This year, the focus is on something that doesn’t always get named. What it actually feels like to be at work. For a lot of people, especially racialised Autistic people, work can feel like something you have to get through rather than somewhere you can just be.

We are delighted to announce that some kind souls have nominated us at this year's NDAwards! Thank you so much! If you think our work is beneficial and would like to support us, please enter a wee votes if you can. Thank you so much! www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/awards-2026/... #NDA26

🖤 Stephen Lawrence Day | April 22, 2026 We mark this day every year, not because of the horror of the incident itself, but for what it exposed in the very systems we seek safety. The theme is The Power of Learning - Knowledge Changes Everything A legacy of hope, a fight for justice...

Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA) is partnering with RISE Forth Valley to deliver a series of community sessions on Understanding and Supporting Autistic People. For questions or to book, contact the RISE Parent Club Coordinator on 07740 283292. #AutismTraining #CommunitySupport

Being assessed, or realising you are Autistic later in life, can be both a positive and emotional experience. It may help you understand why your experiences have felt different from those around you, or it may leave you with more questions than answers. @arghscotland.bsky.social 🧵👇

Today, many in our communities are marking Baisakhi. For Sikh communities, it holds deep spiritual meaning. It marks the founding of the Khalsa. For others, it’s a time of harvest, renewal, and coming together. #SEMA #Baisakhi

There have been brief moments recently where I wished I wasn’t autistic. This was because of other people’s treatment, not because of any intrinsic flaws within me. When those people are very close relationships, it hurts even more.

So for Autism Acceptance Month we would like to take the reflections from our community training project and try to educate folks about the basic principles of supporting Autistics in our communities. @thendeducator.bsky.social 👇 🧵

We purposely didn’t post about World Autism Day this year. There are merits to mark a day where organisations (private, public & 3rd sectors) all speak about this, however, a lot of times, they initiate conversations by omitting actually autistic voices. 👇🧵

Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA) is partnering with RISE Forth Valley to deliver a series of community sessions on Understanding and Supporting Autistic People. These sessions are designed to build awareness, challenge misconceptions, and support communities to better understand Autism. 👇🧵

Today marks the end of Holy Week. A well deserved day of celebration for those who observed Lent, reflecting on the sacrifices made by Jesus (peace be upon him) to maintain humanity in us humans.

So for Autism Acceptance Month we would like to take the reflections from our community training project and try to educate folks about the basic principles of supporting Autistics in our communities. @thendeducator.bsky.social

Today is about recognising and celebrating transgender people and their contributions, while also acknowledging the challenges many still face in living safely and authentically.

We are offering free community training on Autism Fully funded through the Ethnic Minority Development Fund (EMDF) Available until July 2026 Delivered by SEMA, this training is led by lived experience and shaped by the realities of racialised Autistic communities. 👇🧵

For too long, autistic people have been unheard, unsupported, and excluded from decisions about our own lives. SEMA, along with @amase.org.uk , @arghscotland.bsky.social @auroraconsulting.bsky.social & AVATAR have come together to set out a shared vision for change. 👇🧵

Neurodiversity & colonialism are linked in various ways, primarily through the historical and ongoing impact of colonialism on diverse populations, including neurodivergent individuals. There are some ways in which they are connected. Learn more here: www.instagram.com/p/DWMXsnZNIev/

21st March marks the #InternationalDayfortheElimination of Racial Discrimination. This day reminds us that racism is not just something that exists in history. It continues to shape the experiences, opportunities, and safety of many people around the world.

Different community groups can become neuro-affirming in their practice by implementing the following strategies: 1. Education & Training 2. Accessibility & Accommodation 3. Inclusive Language & Communication

There are several reasons why there may be a lack of vocabulary regarding neurodiversity in many cultures: 1.Cultural Differences 2.Stigma and Shame 3.Medicalisation & Pathologisation 4.Lack of Awareness & Education 5.Historical & Socioeconomic Factors Read more: www.instagram.com/p/DWB2DJGMVE5/

#neurodivergency may not be as widely accepted within racialised communities for several reasons: 1. Lack of Awareness 2. Cultural Stigma 3. Access to Resources 4. Intersectional Discrimination 5. Cultural Norms and Expectations Read full post here: www.instagram.com/p/DV_KpEph9Fp/

#MothersDay can hold many emotions. Today, we honour mothers in all their forms. Mothers who nurture, protect, teach, and hold their families together through quiet strength and endless care. We recognise the Autistic mothers raising children with love despite the exhaustion. 👇🧵

Sleep is not always simple. For many Autistic people, sleep can already be a fragile balance. Sensory sensitivities, racing thoughts, anxiety, or disrupted routines can make rest difficult to find. During Ramadan, this balance can become even more challenging.

Happy Women's day to all the women around us! Today is a reminder to take a moment to reflect, recognise, and take action at a time when women and girls are politicised, victimised and terrorised. #Internationalwomen'sday

We are pleased to see the positive response to our Autistic Ramadan E-book! We would like to thank our service users for the learning, our partner organisations and fellow Autistic advocates for the continued love and support over the years & the team who put this together. 🧵👇

Last year we published a month worth of reflections on Ramadan including 2 webinars discussing Autistic experiences during the holy month. This year we decided to collate these into an e-book, the first of its kind but not the last! You can access the book here: heyzine.com/flip-book/29... 🧵👇

International Day of Women and Girls in Science exists to highlight how women and girls continue to be underrepresented, undervalued, and excluded across scientific fields. For racialised Autistic women, non-binary people and gender-diverse people, barriers in science are rarely just about gender.

Love languages often centre one narrow idea of love. Romantic. Verbal. Neurotypical. Public. For Autistic people, love can look and feel very different. Especially for racialised Autistic people, whose expressions of care are often misunderstood, dismissed & judged through cultural & ableist lenses

#LunarNewYear2026 🧧 Year of the Red Fire Horse Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other East and Southeast Asian communities. It is a time connected to renewal, ancestry, movement, and change.

Today is World Cancer Day and at SEMA we cannot ignore who is being left behind. For Autistic people and those with learning disabilities, cancer care comes with extra barriers. #WorldCancerDay #UnitedByUnique #Neurodiversity #LearningDisabilities #CancerAwareness #SEMA

At SEMA, we see how racism intersects with neurodivergence, culture, and faith. It shapes what people feel safe to say, how they are treated at work, and whether they are included in services, schools, or community spaces. #ChangeNeedsAllOfUs #RaceEqualityWeek #SEMA #RacialisedAutistics #Scotland

Last month, I ran a training with Rainbow Muslim Women Group, and going through the session afterwards some things really stuck with me. Watch complete video here for my reflections: www.instagram.com/p/DULkR_mlJoz/ - @thendeducator.bsky.social #DestigmatiseAutism #AutisticTrainer #Autism

I delivered the introduction to community training sessions on 26th Dec and 7th Dec with two ladies' groups at Rainbow Muslim Women's Group, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Everyone has been talking about the new Barbie this week. Normally, when topics go viral, I avoid adding my 2 pence. However, my ADHD brain was buzzing last night after continuously reading reviews, criticisms and welcomes to the doll collection. 👇🧵 @thendeducator.bsky.social

On 5th Dec, I went to the Boots and Beards office to deliver the first part of the Community Ambassador Training to some of the male South Asian carers at Coalition of Carers. @thendeducator.bsky.social

The new year has always been something I’ve always looked forward to. The madness dies down a bit, and you can tuck yourself in at home and reflect on what has been in the previous year. #SEMA #NewYearReflections #AutisticVoices #NeurodivergentCommunity #AutisticAdults #AutisticJoy

As we step into 2026, we pause to honour the courage, resilience, and stories that make our community so extraordinary. Every voice shared, every act of kindness, and every moment of understanding has shaped a world where people feel seen, valued, and supported.