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 🧵👇

Join us to celebrate Autistic Pride 2026: Bellfield Park, Inverness, on Saturday 20 June, from 11am to 2pm. This free, family‑friendly gathering is open to autistic people of all ages, along with families, friends, and allies. More info: arghscotland.org/autistic-pri...

We’ve joined with some other Autistic People’s Organisations in Scotland including @amase.org.uk and @semascot.bsky.social to publish a shared manifesto ahead of May’s Scottish election. “Nothing about us without us.” read the full manifesto here: arghscotland.org/apo-manifest...

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. 👇🧵

Save the Date! Autscot 2027 a small retreat style conference run by and for autistic people taking place in Scotland April 2027 for more info / updates: arghighland.co.uk/autscot-2027/

An autistic researcher at the University of Manchester is inviting #ActuallyAutistic adults for research into the tendency to get stuck or frozen, sometimes called #AutisticInertia. Get in touch to learn more www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...

Reminder: Applications close on 28th Feb - get your application in now!

On Thurs 22nd January, we are hosting Lightning Talks with @arghscotland.bsky.social 🌩️ This will be a space for autistic and other ND folk to infodump and share the joy. Everyone is also welcome to just attend and enjoy! Talks should be up to about 7 minutes long. Sign up: luma.com/zh49tltt

📝 The Call for Proposals for #OnlineAutscape2026 is open! 🧭 Theme: “Evolving Autistic Space Online”. ⏳ Submission deadline: 16 January. Please spread far and wide: www.autscape.org/2026/online/... #Autscape #ActuallyAutistic #autistic #autism #neurodiversity #neurodivergence #neurodivergent

If you may run low on medication over Christmas / New Year remember to get your repeat prescription request in now!

Urging anyone, especially kids/their parents, who are eligible for flu vaccination (or covid, but recognise this is ridiculously limited this year) to please get it ASAP. Horrible, potentially deadly strains going round, please get vaccinated.

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.

Remember applications close on 28th February 2026. Get your application in now! (Also still taking donations to the fund)

Today is Trans Day of Remembrance, thoughts and love to all of our trans siblings - today and every day.

Representatives of autistic-led organisations giving evidence to Holyrood’s health, social care and sport committee said a national plan is needed to fix significant gaps in neurodevelopmental pathways: healthandcare.scot/stories/4295...

ARGH Scotland is excited to announce that we are now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SC054724. We are 20 this year & this marks an exciting new chapter in our development as an Autistic led organisation. Thank you to all members and supporters for getting us to where we are today.

"It’s essential that autistic people, regardless of age, have a way to communicate. Spoken words should not be valued above other methods, & AAC should never be taken away by parents, teachers, or caregivers. For many autistic people, using alternatives to speech is not a choice – it’s a lifeline."

Being “interest-led” isn’t enough. Monotropism means honouring deep attention, autonomy & sensory safety, not weaponising interests for compliance. https://autisticrealms.com/why-interest-led-isnt-enough-embracing-monotropism-neuro-affirming-practice/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Nice article about someone realising they are autistic in later life. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Very early start this morning. Off to Edinburgh to give evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport committee who are running an inquiry into waiting times for assessment and support autism & ADHD: yourviews.parliament.scot/health/adhd-...

In two weeks, we welcome Jang Jiyong (장지용, aka Alvis) of Estas to Edinburgh, to talk about Korea and the status of Autistic people in the country. We will also talk a bit about AMASE and autism in Scotland. At the Old College and online, 1pm BST/9pm KST on Saturday 11th October. luma.com/48s9n2w2

“This administration seems to care a lot about autism as a supposed epidemic,” said Colin Killick, the executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “It does not seem to care much at all about autistic people.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/u...

arghighland.co.uk/statement-mi...

Hey, British Acting Establishment - are you all absolutely determined to break people's hearts by taking the Rowling shilling? So many people I formerly respected seem to have decided a that a tainted payday is worth more than trans people's lives. Shame on the lot of 'em. #Audible

I have been working on 2 educational animation films about Autistic experiences with @thrivingautistic.bsky.social 's team We will be premiering these during the Discovery Celebration event. FREE TICKETS Thursday 18th September 2025 7–8:45pm Irish/UK time www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/discovery-...

remember everyone (in UK) : this is tomorrow (Sunday 7th Sept): www.gov.uk/government/n... GOV.UK UK’s Emergency Alert system The UK government will be carrying out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September at 3pm.

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.

ICYMI, PLEASE SHARE! Writers! Uncanny Magazine is OPEN to Short Story Submissions from August 25 to September 8! We can't wait to read your stories!!! buff.ly/xB0IZOX

It’s funny, I was reading a thing about neuro affirming care and bringing up/ working with autistic kids earlier, and I thought: This is how we should bring up all children.

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...

Right now, the National Autistic Taskforce is running a Founder's Award (in honour of my mum) to provide small grants to autistic people based in the UK "to support them in pursuing work that would be in line with Dinah’s previous work and wishes." nationalautistictaskforce.org.uk/nat-founders...

Exploring why and how Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) can harm Autistic people. #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #PBS #DisabilityJustice https://autisticrealms.com/why-pbs-is-harmful-for-autistic-and-neurodivergent-young-people/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Another call! Colleagues at University of Liverpool seek #autistic participants, their relatives, care/health staff and autistic co-researchers to explore experiences of #cancercare in #NorthWest #England supported by North West Cancer Research. Please see more info and contact details on flyer ⤵️

Edinburgh's 6th Autistic Pride Picnic will be held again in The Meadows (in the usual place at the Prince Albert Victor Sundial) from around 2-5pm on the 2nd of August 🧺 This is an opportunity to celebrate autistic identity and the autistic community 🙌 Find out more: amase.org.uk/pride

Joseph has finished his walk. Well done and thank you! Also thanks to all who have helped us to raise £1030. Every penny will go to helping Autistic people ❤️ Justgiving page still open here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

You can protect children without harming minorities - but with the UK government we have I’m sadly unsurprised they have just put in place this conservative legislation.

It's day 9 and the end is in sight (kind of), update from Joseph: "Up a big hill and down a deep valley and now in Kinlochleven" Massive thanks to all who have donated so far - we reached our target! Still not too late to donate though - every penny helps! www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Day 8 update from Joseph: ‘Perfect Scottish hiking weather today. Overcast but no precipitation, temperature in the mid teens and a gentle breeze to keep the midges away. Now in Glencoe mountain resort campsite. Only a marathon left of the walk to go!’ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Day 7 update from Joseph: ‘Only a short-ish walk today, tyndrum to bridge of orchy then knocking off a few more stations on the west Highland line’ And a big thank you to those who have donated; we’ve reached our target - can we exceed it? www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Day 6 update from a very soggy Joseph: ‘Made it to Tyndrum, finally over half way. Been rained on all day, waiting for a gap in the rain to set up my tent.’ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Day 5 update from Joseph: ‘Made it to campsite. Suns out and midgies are awakening too. It's quite the obstacle course from Inversnaid to Ardleish!!’ Thank you to all have donated, read more & donate: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

As someone actually trained in behavioural psychology—unlike most MPs—I can tell you: financial precarity doesn’t “incentivise” sick people to work. It breaks them. Stress worsens health. Fear doesn’t create productivity. It creates collapse. #TakingThePIP

Joseph has made it to Inversnaid. Joseph says: ‘Rain was easing up so the midgies had a party. Not fun setting up the tent in these conditions and means I will have to spend an hour before bedtime squishing the ones that made it inside’ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

As an MSP for the Highlands and Islands, I'm here to help. I still have surgeries in the region, see the full list here: emmaroddick.scot/202... But you don't have to wait for a surgery to raise an issue - please reach out to my office at any time.

Update from Joseph: 'A short walk today over conic hill. Tomorrow it'll be a 15 mile slog from Balmaha to Inversnaid hopefully before the scheduled downpour in the evening' www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Joseph has made it to Drymen where he’ll be camping overnight (Joseph said ‘this is the easy bit). If you’d like to help us reach our fund-raising target please see: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding... He’s seen some familiar Highland faces along the way!

Joseph is on his way to Scotland: ‘Hurtling on the way to Glasgow on a crowded pendolino. Todays section of the walk will be from Glasgow to Milngavie, a great contrast to the rest of it’ To read more about the challenge and donate: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Time to re-share this piece I made a year ago today about neurodiversity and neurodivergence, and why the important distinctions between them is not about grammar/linguistics.

Anyone hoping for pics of particular wildlife from the walk? I’m hoping for a wildcat sighting. (Pretty ambitious but you never know!)