Today's @learningmet.bsky.social seminar is on autistic people and cancer & cancer services, with @georgiarivers.bsky.social , @kmunday.bsky.social , Char Goodwin & Rosie Tansley. Dr Georgia Rivers first, on PhD research with autistic transmasculine people on experiences of cervical screening.🧵

I was asked for refutations of Uta Frith's Tes talking points, so I collected together some of the posts that have been coming up in my feeds.

Several times recently I’ve shared research and ideas on social media and have been ‘piled on’ (in a minor way) by people with criticisms of someone else’s projects. This is a polite reminder that nothing is perfect (because we live in an imperfect world 1/3

Lateral ableism is harming the autistic community - my latest piece - NO PAYWALL

Chris Bailey has written this letter to the TES in response to Uta Frith’s (damaging) article about why she no longer believes autism is a spectrum. Great letter - please sign, especially (but not only) if you’re a researcher in this field. #AutRes thisdamnpassivesoul.wordpress.com/2026/03/06/f...

Couldn't think of a more challenging, encouraging and ultimately uplifting way to spend my birthday. Excellent keynotes, workshops, plenty of food for thought. And to share it not just with my hubby but a whole roomful of my tribe was gorgeous x

Probably for the best that no one dresses up as a character from my novel The Gospel of Eve for #WorldBookDay … though I guess ordinands at colleges like Mirfield or Cuddeston might do so unconsciously… #BookChat

Peak Teacher: You turn up to guest lecture with a plan & slides and it goes fine. THEN you run into a family friend who says “I’m teaching on meaning making. Come and talk about autism. In 10 mins” and for some reason you say yes. Not my finest work but I remembered the words ‘epistemic injustice’

There’s still time to sign up and join my team at this online seminar next Weds with @georgiarivers.bsky.social , @kmunday.bsky.social and two other great speakers, on their research with autistic people into experiences of cancer and cancer services.

The attempted attack on Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan is deplorable (and took far too long to hit national news). Praying for the Muslim community there.

When you're too tired to move, much less cook, and a 25% off code for the local pizza place arrives in your text message inbox. If I hadn't already done my #40DaysofGoodShit over on the other social media, this would be it. Actually, I think I'm okay with two good things in one day

If you want to join us for our great monthly research seminars - which often have a focus on activism and research - you can follow this account or request email updates (DM me for details).

I’m a joint keynote speaker for Generous Faith 2: Turning Up the Tuned Out, with Prof Anthony Reddie. Join us and many other fab contributors for the second year of this conference, calling and working for a prophetic church that listens to marginalised voices. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/generous-f...

Never change, sociologists

Released today: the Living Ministry report on the wellbeing of #disabled and #neurodivergent clergy in the Church of England. I was part of the advisory group for this research. Report here: lnkd.in/dZq6sF9n

The Church of England has a rather dysfunctional relationship with the press when it comes to exorcism; its approach, as here, is to downplay the practice in the hope the latest wave of interest will die down and the reporters will go away (thread) www.thetimes.com/article/a6ea...

"autistic people reported higher levels of negative post-traumatic appraisals" journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... including fear appraisals: "it is plausible that these are developed and reinforced through repeated experiences of the world not being safe or supportive for autistic people"

Your annual reminder that if you want someone to chat or have a laugh with over the Christmas period there will be lots of folk on the #JoinIn and #DuvetKnowItsChristmas threads. 🎄

Call for speakers! 📚 On 18.03.26 @nlisn.bsky.social is running a full-day online event on neurodivergency and entry into the LIS profession. We welcome proposals from current students, recent graduates, early-career, long-term staff, recruiters, anyone! More info & form - forms.gle/MjT2djGSXp1o...

Blessings of the Returning Light on this Solstice, Fourth Sunday in Advent and eighth night of Hanukkah.* Find light in the darkness. ❤ *All being things I either celebrate for myself or with family. :)

Important Holiday Season update: Tim Horton's donuts may be famous, but they're not a patch on Sainsbury's as Hanukkah donuts.

Good to be at St Martin in the Fields for 'Christ in the Stranger' this morning, an act of witness about the meaning of Christmas ahead of the afternoon event nearby. Joining with Sanctuary Foundation, Better Story and people from diverse churches across London. #RefugeesWelcome

Solidarity with my Jewish friends today, especially anyone in Australia. What a horrific thing.

annsautism.blogspot.com/2025/12/but-... New blog from me. This may be helpful for anyone struggling to know whether to force their autistic child to join in at Christmas or other festivities. Some helpful resources, and some myth-busting.

This was an excellent seminar from Prof and Dr Aiello. It’s been a great year of seminars in our research group, with activist research a particular theme. Looking forward to sharing more research with impact for disabled people in 2025.

Great article in the latest ISRF newsletter by @autgeek.bsky.social and @drhelenkara.bsky.social - ‘Why is There So Much Research About Us Without Us?’ - on neurodivergence research funding and agendas. isrf.org/blog/why-is-... #AutRes #DisabilityStudies

(Done.) Write to your MP about the threatened cuts to Access to Work. Thanks to @inclusionlondon.bsky.social for organising this campaign. www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/campaigns-an...

🚨Our statement on #Budget2026 Yet more Government actions that place the burden on Disabled people instead of taking responsibility for an unequal and inaccessible society that the Government has the power to change. www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/dr-uks-...

“Who counts as disabled then?” I get extra ‘disability studies bingo’ points if they do finger air quotes around the word disabled

In honor of @sfdirewolf.bsky.social's legacy as a disability activist and writer, today we are republishing Bitch Magazine's Access Series, which was originally curated by Alice Wong. Worker-owner and former Bitch editor-in-chief Evette Dionne updated the intro to the series here:

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 UK Covid-19 Inquiry report has just been released - it details the damning failure to protect Disabled people as “too little, too late”, mentioning government's “remarkable” failure to anticipate and plan an effective response More👇 www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/uk-covi...

Devastating. Alice was a powerful voice in disability justice activism, arts and storytelling, who helped so many people see that our stories matter. Rest in power.

All right folks, it’s crunch time. I’ve done that thing where I arrange to stay somewhere for three days and do not intend to emerge except for food, or do anything but work. Last time I did this was for my book. Now I’m writing a very intimidating (but exciting) research proposal. Wish me luck!

"An essential listen for anyone interested in neurodivergence, gender and disability rights. Katie’s powerful voice, extensive knowledge, and commitment to their community provide a perspective that challenges assumptions and inspires action" podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

New article in the International Journal of Disability & Social Justice - 'I Just Didn't Fit into the Way That They Did Church': Barriers to Access & Participation for Disabled People in Churches naomilawsonjacobs.com/new-article-... #EqualityAct #NewResearch #DisabilityStudies #AcademicSky

I’m honoured to be a guest on the fantastic Dr Selina Stone’s #podcast ‘Sunday School for Misfits’ this week. This season of the podcast is on power, and we had a lot to talk about when it comes to #disability, #neurodivergence and power in churches and #theology. open.spotify.com/episode/3DM2...

New blogpost on my concerns about Wellcome LEAP new $50m program on autism/microbiome links. deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-le... #autism #microbiome #biomarkers #diagnostic

Here's this year's @livingedgeconf.bsky.social, as mentioned in today's wonderful seminar hosted by @naomijacobs.bsky.social . There are still a few spaces left, both onsite and online. cantheseboneslive.eventbrite.co.uk

Huge thanks to @krysiawally.bsky.social , @jpuddlegoose.bsky.social & Bernice Hardie for sharing their work in faith communities for disability inclusion & social justice at @learningmet.bsky.social. Great to host such interesting speakers on a topic we don’t talk about enough in #DisabilityStudies.

Simon Wessely — the controversial psychiatrist once dubbed “Britain’s most hated doctor” has been appointed vice chair of Labour’s review into overdiagnosis of mental health and neurodivergence. www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/controv...

🗞️ NEWS 🗞️ Dr. Krysia Waldock and I have chapters to release from the two co-edited collections. Here is our next premiere of the 'talking heads' videos. These books focus on neurodivergence and education, in all its renditions (i.e., in life too).

Solidarity with the Jewish community, especially in Manchester. The murder of two people at worship on the holiest day of the Jewish year is beyond reprehensible.

1. Dr. Jane Goodall 1934 - 2025 In 1962, a very young woman named Jane Goodall stepped into the African forest. What she would discover shattered our understanding of the place of human beings in the world. She revealed that chimpanzees use tools, form bonds, and experience emotions.

I’m enjoying how people from various disciplines are now all popping in to tell me which key terminology from their fields they repeatedly get wrong, from the deceptively simple to the terrifying.

Doing copy edits for a soon-forthcoming journal article (exciting!) After more than a decade researching in this field, it seems I still can't spell "disability."

What is the point in complaining about #AccessFail s? I’ve had emails from two different train companies today about journeys where assistance went wrong. Both responses come down to “Your fault.” I got a refund so I win (ish), but can we please stop blaming disabled people for poor access support?

Breathing Life: Events to Share Research and Build Community — naomilawsonjacobs.com/breathing-li... News of upcoming events and reflections on work to forget community partnerships and build bridges over the past few months. With thanks to all my incredible collaborators.

I have been given a chocolate moose. (Yes it did take me four hours to get that this is a pun. No I am not embarrassed.) The moose is called Beloning and I am writing a piece about belonging (for neurodivergent people in churches) so I think this is very apt.

Save the date for our upcoming workshop - 8th and 9th January 2026. We welcome autistic people, allies, academics, practitioners, clinicians, education professionals, anyone who cares about autistic interests and flourishing! #AutRes #AutismResearch