“An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients.” What an absolutely incredible, joyous achievement for everyone involved. Hurrah for science and scientists! www.bbc.com/news/article...

Don’t know if my heart is ready. Who on Earth could play her? ❤️

*clutches autism trophy* I’d like to thank paracetamol for this award

Steve Silberman is so pissed about this Tylenol bullshit that he's screaming from the afterlife he didn't even believe in. Increased rates of autism are due to testing, a broadened definition, and greater awareness. It's not vaccines. It's not Tylenol. It's like his work never happened.

Unsolicited writing advice, no.555: Your voice is an expression of your identity, your culture, your range, your imagination, your experience. Not every reader will like it or connect with it, but it’s the only voice you have, and it matters.

If we’re going to resist narratives around autism as an illness or disease, today might be a good day to stop calling it a ‘condition’

To be an autistic woman is always feeling a little bit like a Sylvanian Family hamster that's landed in Barbie World

First time I went to an eating disorders unit, I learned that "institutionalisation" is a white stick of a word and a way of life when you're not quite ready to die or to live l, and planning anything in advance feels pointless.

Why are the late night comedians doing the job of journalists by standing up to the bullies?? Another reason artists are the soul of humanity.

This touched me in ways that I didn’t expect. Highly recommend a pause to drink it in.

This is an amazing piece of writing, very much worth your time. Thanks and kudos to @elsawilliams.bsky.social for putting this out there.

A piece I wrote last year. One day I’ll say the things I want to. Until then ❤️

The latest 500 Songs Backer-Only bonus episode is now up! The Who! Elvis! The Beatles! Shakin' Stevens! The Teletubbies! Mary Whitehouse! The Greater Manchester Police Obscene Publications Squad! It's the "career" of P.J. Proby

A T-shirt for those of you who love the content warnings… That’s right, 500 Songs Podcast official merch is available to order. Get yours now! 500-songs.teemill.com/product/befo...

One day a blazer won’t make me look like your twelve-year-old nephew at a wedding

Turns out being labelled ‘complex’ by mental health services doesn’t mean you’re a mysterious, unknowable novel protagonist they’ve fallen in love with

Friend’s selling her baby cot on Facebook. Tempted to buy. Not for a baby, I’ll have to explain. Just so I can serve a giant pasta bake in it

I've written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, urging them to join me in condemning Elon Musk's dangerous remarks inciting violence yesterday. As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.

This Sunday we’re travelling back to Episode 174B! Andrew explores the career of Marvin Gaye from 1963 through 1970, as well as his duet partners Mary Wells, Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell. Available to listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and via Andrew’s website: 500songs.com/podcast/song...

Any digital art friends ever had the issue where their Apple pencil has died completely and won't charge/sync up?? It’s a first gen pencil (from 2015) on 2017 iPad (Christopher, my boy - I know l've drawn your ear like shit and I want to sort it out)

Been in tears at this for a good six minutes

I can't believe I need to have an AI policy! I made it pretty short though: Using AI is cheating, yourself mostly. In addition to the environmental blight created by AI, it makes no sense to use it in your intellectual and creative work. Why would you outsource your innate intelligence?

I feel like when you receive a new mental health diagnosis it should be presented like an award, and you should get to stand up and do a BAFTA style acceptance speech in front of your community team

Autism is seeing people’s before and after transformation pictures on social media and genuinely losing your mind trying to work out which is supposed to be the superior version

Me during a national emergency alert: “Ah, I think my tuna pasta bake is done”

Think they fucked up, anybody else’s phone immediately start playing the opening bars to “Tragedy” by Steps

Patiently waiting for Keir Starmer to accidentally call it ‘The Freedom Tortilla’

Sometimes I get the urge to have a baby but not remotely in a broody way? More as a whacky science experiment, you know

Anyway, we’re using our very tiny income to create a paid route into comedy & give a portfolio & experience to freelance writers with no credits needed, while adding roughly £2k to their annual income in exchange for 6 short paragraphs of writing a week. If that opportunity sucks, keep moving.

A well-meaning relative raved to me about the autistic representation on the recent show Patience. Watched it to find yet another infantalized autistic character whose autism seems to mostly manifest as emotional fragility the allistic co-lead could feel good about protecting.

Or as I call it, nature’s Babybel

An article I wrote last year about not really relating to portrayals of autism on screen. Still don’t. I reckon a lot of us don’t. Maybe that’s a show that needs to be made.

Who’s this weird little lad then

Me: *sees friend’s cat has died and comments condolences* Facebook: you like dead cats?? Here’s six hundred of them

Today we’re travelling back to Episode 38: “Heartbreak Hotel”, by Elvis Presley. In this episode, Andrew explores the aftermath of Elvis leaving Sun Records and the birth of rockabilly. Available on Spotify, Apple Music and via Andrew’s website: 500songs.com/podcast/epis...

So the news is out: Unbound has officially gone into administration which means Stim is out of print. I had reverted the rights some time ago, but held off on an announcement while things were wrapping up. www.instagram.com/p/DM7S6Uqofx...

But in art, the aim is to transmit thought and emotion from one human to another. If one of those humans can’t be bothered to do the job, and the other human can’t be arsed to care, you’re only transmitting one emotion: Contempt.

BBC NEWS / AFP / BBC NEWS / REUTERS JOINT STATEMENT: “We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families. "They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering. "

New bonus episode out now! The explicit version of Song 179: “Kick Out the Jams” by the MC5. Full of delicious, naughty swear words, this one is just for you, Patreon backers. A clean version will be up on the main feed in a few days. Listen on Patreon only: www.patreon.com/posts/134062...

Missing Autistic Women Oversharing? We’ve got the first of several bonus episodes to tide you over between seasons up on Patreon now, available to paid subscribers at all levels! AND we roped the hilarious @gracejarvisohno.bsky.social in to take an ADHD test with us! Stop everything & listen:

I love being sticky. I love not sleeping. I love that the Freddo I bought six minutes ago now resembles a small sachet of ketchup

Okay, I really adore Christine McGuinness. She’s always spoken about her autistic kids with grace and understanding. Talks about her own diagnosis from a place of continued learning, rather than positioning herself as an expert. Props to her.

You know the heat is intolerable as an autistic person when you’re thinking about standing in the supermarket

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