#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.

We are deeply thankful to Corporate Vision for the Small Business Awards 2025 in the Neurodiversity & Equity Excellence – UK category. 🏆 This recognition reflects the dedication, resilience, and passion of our community — the people, families, and supporters who walk alongside us every day.

Merry Christmas from SEMA 🎄 This Christmas, we pause to reflect on the power of kindness, connection, and compassion. It is a time to celebrate the moments that bring warmth to our hearts, the people who lift us up, and the courage it takes to face challenges with hope.

#InternationalHumanSolidarityDay is observed on 20 December. It reminds us that solidarity is not charity or sympathy. It is a shared responsibility to challenge poverty, inequality and social exclusion through collective action. #RacialisedAutistics

#InternationalMigrantsDay: My great story is a shared one International Migrants Day is observed on 18 December. It recognises migration as a defining force of our time and calls for safer, fairer and more inclusive systems that reflect real lives, not stereotypes.

@thendeducator.bsky.social from Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics will join Rainbow Muslim Women's Group to discuss the understanding of autism and neurodivergency. Please join us to help tackle stigma around neurodivergence, disability and different ways of being.

Hanukkah is a celebration of light, resilience and the right to practise faith without fear. It marks a history of survival, cultural continuity and the refusal to have identity erased.

It's the International Day of the Disabled Person tomorrow, and so we thought we would commemorate it by talking about what doesn't get much attention. Knowing how your body and mind work is key to well-being, but most of us lack the information relevant to our specific needs.

Today is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. This day is not only about past atrocities. It is about recognising how systems of exploitation continue. Modern slavery includes forced labour, domestic servitude, trafficking, debt bondage and coercive exploitation.

Gender-based violence does not occur in isolation. For racialised Autistic women, non-binary people and gender-diverse people, experiences of harm are often shaped by cultural stigma, ableism, assumptions about communication, and how safety is defined.

Mental health must be spoken about honestly Across the UK, men are facing a mental health crisis that is rarely acknowledged with the seriousness it deserves. • In the UK, around 75% of people who die by suicide are men (Source: Samaritans, 2023)

#IslamophobiaAwarenessMonth: Flip the script Islamophobia is often discussed as a matter of “misunderstanding” or “lack of awareness.” But Autistic Muslims are not misunderstood. They are unheard.

We decided that we will donate to @medicalaidpal.bsky.social. Sign up for our webinar on Eventbrite #colonialism #palestine #actuallyautistic

International Men’s Day: Seeing what is often unseen International Men’s Day is a moment to recognise the experiences of men whose struggles are often hidden, dismissed or misunderstood.

This week marks Transgender Awareness Week, a time to honour trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people, and to commit to meaningful change. For racialised Autistic individuals who are also trans, the layers of exclusion can be compounded: gender identity, neurodivergence, race, faith, culture.

Islamophobia does not only appear in headlines. It shows up in schools, workplaces, services, and community spaces. For Autistic Muslims, this often means navigating both Islamophobia and ableism at the same time. In recent years, the UK has witnessed a deeply troubling rise in #Islamophobia.

This week is Inter Faith Week: a chance to recognise, respect and build connection across belief systems. For Autistic people from racialised faith communities, meaningful inter-faith inclusion means more than tolerance. #Interfaithweek

It's #ScottishCareersWeek - theme is Shape the Future For Autistic individuals from racialised and faith-diverse communities, career journeys often involve navigating additional barriers – from workplace culture and recruitment practices to accessibility, faith accommodation & spoken/unspoken bias

The Impact of Colonialism on Autistic People Tuesday 25 November, 7-9PM. I’ll be speaking in a webinar by Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate and Autistic Burnout Network alongside Claire Betson and Viv Dawes. #AutisticInclusion #RacialisedAutisticVoices #ColonialismAndDisability #AutisticBurnoutNetwork

Guru Nanak Jayanti, marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It is one of the most sacred festivals for Sikhs and is celebrated with deep devotion, love, and unity by followers of this faith across India and globally.

Excited to share that I will be speaking on Day 1 of the Faith on the Margins: Engaging with Nonspeaking and Black Autistic Christians conference, hosted by the Aberdeen Institute of Autism and Spirituality.

I can’t count the number of times that I’ve heard “I mean, Black History Month isn’t fair is it? There’s no White History Month”, often from well-meaning friends and colleagues. #BlackHistoryMonth #AutismInBlack #BlackandAutistic #BHM #BlackLivesMatter #Neurodiversity #InclusionMatters #SEMA

Abuse is not blind to difference. For Autistic, ADHD, and other neurodivergent women, the risks are often higher, and the systems meant to protect them frequently fail to understand their needs. #DomesticAbuseAwareness #Neurodiversity #AutisticWomen #Intersectionality #SEMA

Happy Diwali from SEMA As homes light up across the world for Diwali, we celebrate the spirit of brightness, renewal, and community. For many, Diwali is more than a festival of lights. It is a reminder that light grows stronger when shared through understanding, inclusion, and kindness.

Behind these numbers are lives and stories, and too often, racialised voices are the ones missing. October is ADHD Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is The Many Faces of ADHD.

Many people know dyslexia. Many know ADHD. But what happens when the two intersect, or when an Autistic person also has ADHD? The impact is profound, especially in systems built around singular-focus assessments.

This year’s theme for International Day of the Girl Child is “The girl I am, the change I lead”, it honours girls on the frontlines of crisis, those shaping their futures despite systemic inequality. Yet the global picture shows how far there is still to go. #DayoftheGirl #GenerationEquality

This year’s theme, “Mental health in humanitarian emergencies”, reminds us that mental health support is not a luxury. It is a necessity that must reach everyone, especially those already living at the margins of care. #MentalHealthMatters #SEMA

We are delighted to share that our original artwork from the "Our Lived Experiences" project, funded by the Autistic Adult Support Fund, is on display this month around the Forth Valley. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackWhileAutistic #OurStories #LivedExperience #ForthValley

On the 24th, I had the opportunity to present the findings of a survey on autism assessment experiences—a vital research piece that brought together Scottish Autism, ARGH, AMASE, and SEMA. Although the research was conducted in 2023, the situation has actually declined for Autistics in Scotland.

2 October marks the International Day of Non-Violence, a reminder that peace is not only the absence of conflict but the presence of dignity, justice, and respect. Violence is not always physical. It shows up as systemic exclusion, cultural stigma, and barriers to access.

30 September marks #InternationalTranslationDay, a celebration of the bridges language creates. At Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA), translation is more than words. It is about ensuring autistic people from all communities can access respect, dignity, and understanding.

“They’ll be fine.” But what if they’re not? Some of the most misunderstood experiences for Autistic people, especially racialised Autistics, are rejection sensitivity, elopement, and suicidality. These are often dismissed or mislabelled as misbehaviour, defiance, or attention-seeking.

As Black and Brown people, we are not afforded the same empathy when we feel overwhelmed - our emotions are seen as dramatisation or aggression. Autistics of all races say when they feel any strong emotion - fear, love, excitement, anxiety, injustice, joy - that they react with tears.

Autistic individuals aged 55 and over, in the UK, are invited to participate in a research project. Help us understand what it’s like to live in a world not designed for older autistic adults. @blackautistics.bsky.social @semascot.bsky.social @autisticsociety.bsky.social #autism #autismresearch

At the weekend, I was speaking to a parent of a young PDA teen who is at wit's end with the struggles they face at home. It didn't help when the primary school didn't pick up the child's needs. It didn't help when others said they are 'weak parents' and give in to the child's demands. 🧵👇

On Monday we had the opportunity, with @auroraconsulting.bsky.social, to deliver training to officers of different rank from the Greater Glasgow Division. We did have folks travelling in from other areas too. Huge thanks to Greater Glasgow Division, for hosting us 🧵👇

The current hostile anti-immigration climate that has affected the UK is really causing alarm for us. Firstly, the beliefs that perpetrate the hate and falsely perceived threat of 'foreigners' and baseless! #hopenothate #notoracism #migration #saltire #welcome #racialisedautistics #safespaces

I had the opportunity to deliver training to the SQA ACE & Disability Network members last week. The topic was accommodating racialised autistics in their full identities, experiences and characteristics which meant understanding intersectional experiences.

📢 Our survey for UK autistic adults will be open until 9am Monday 1st September, so there's still time to take part. ⬇️ Thanks to everyone who has taken part already 🙏

In our recent research on Autistic experiences of assessment in Scotland, with @arghscotland.bsky.social, @semascot.bsky.social and @scottishautism.bsky.social, Edinburgh stood out as having the best experiences, thanks to Number 6. We have just learned that they have lost funding for this service.

The next meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Autism will take place on Monday, 1st September, 12-2 pm, and we are heading up the presentations! This meeting will focus on the experiences of racialised autistic people in Scotland...