"Why we need to reframe autism"

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I've just been guest on the podcast that hosted the autism researcher Uta Frith. I did a thread about it: https://mas.to/@KatyElphinstone/116206483353899881

Here's my episode:
On substack (but I think anyone can listen to it):
https://neurosense.substack.com/p/why-we-need-to-reframe-autism-with
On Apple podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lets-talk-neurosense-the-psychology-of-neurodiversity/id1883007944 
On Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/19fSshl0XkXqiKPCp3uyzO?si=gDBCV9koQHKqvEMHqrZJnw&t=2249 

Pass it on if you like it!

Comments can be made on the Substack version, & very welcome ☺️

#AutismResearch #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD

Reminder for those who may not be aware that those "fancy/custom text" things using special unicode characters that bypass ASCII fonts to make your name look cool or fancy or whatever ruin accessibility, like hard.

They break screen readers hard, since most, if not all, don't know how to handle them properly and end up pronouncing something like "Special character S" or whatever. They're also significantly harder to read than a user's chosen font, or the default fonts on any reasonable operating system or website, especially for neurodivergent and in particular dyslexic people.

Please stop using them, and maybe nudge your friends to stop using them.

Boosts appreciated for awareness

#Accessibility #FancyFonts #Neurodivergent #Boostswelcome

Can't write too much currently as hands hurt. Fortunately, naproxen and codeine, plus massage gun on hands, are poggers.

Back in 2023, we requested an assessment for EDS. We got a referral, but they solely assessed us for joint hypermobility via the Beighton score assessment 🤦‍♀️

We scored 3 out of 9. You need 5 or higher to be considered hypermobile.

No further tests were arranged for any other types of EDS, and we had no energy to follow up, with everything else happening in our life.

However, over the last year in particular, our pain had gradually increased and energy level had fallen, but we hadn't had time nor spoons to really address those until very recently, where the issues became noticeably worse.

We finally got around to getting past the gatekeepers (it took multiple attempts) to get an appointment. That appointment was today.

We discussed symptoms with a very-empathetic and demonstrably experienced GP today. She listened to how we'd gradually been seeing a decline in our health and discovering how multiple issues tend to overlap, such as:

• Neurodivergence.
• Being trans+.
• EDS.
• ME/CFS.
• PCOS.
• Endometriosis.
• POTS.
• MCAS.
• Fibromyalgia.
• TMD / TMJD.

... as well as our own physical and mental symptoms, as well as close family. (Our sister has PCOS and pretty sure all immediate family are some flavour of neurospicy.)

Based on this, she kindly agreed to a blood test to rule out common connective tissue problems, specifically:

• Complement system
  • C3
  • C4
• Connective Tissue Disease (ANA)

What we didn't expect to learn -- and what she seemed confused by also -- was that when the "specialist" wrote back to our GP about our Beighton score in 2023, it was suggested that further tests should be run to rule out ME/CFS.

Yeah...

We'd say we're surprised, but this is NHS England  

Anyways, we'll try to give some updates if/when we get any. Guess we'll see what the blood tests suggest 🤷‍♀️

#SleepyCattenUpdate #disability #spoonie #NHS #PhysicalHealth #neurodivergent #AuDHD #BeightonScore

Neurodiversity in cybersecurity work

https://negativepid.blog/neurodiversity-in-cybersecurity-work/

#neurodiversity #neurodivergent #Cybersecurity #cyberattacks #cyberThreats #onlineSecurity #negativepid #Internet #tech #IT #science #STEM #computing #AI #innovation #negativepid

Every autistic person is unique.
By @Colourblind_Zebra

#studentmentalhealth #studentwellbeing #mentalhealthawareness #schoolmentalhealth #mentalwellness #youthmentalhealth #neurodiversity #neurodivergent #inclusion #ymhc

RE: https://ni.hil.ist/@athousandgateaux/116336763811104074

Fucking this shit!

Oh, and if you've ever accused someone of faking a mental illness you're scum who's perpetuating harm on disabled folks. Don't use our struggle to win your stupid internet fight. Many of us spent year terrified of speaking about what we were going through out of fear of someone like you. If somehow you thought you were doing it for us, now you know, so stfu.

Side note: I can't believe I actually need to say this, but if someone is faking an illness they have a mental illness. It may not be the one they are claiming to have, but you're still harming a disabled person in your fake pursuit of solidarity. This shit isn't fun, we don't do it to get attention, and anyone who thinks that has never had to deal with a chronic disability.

#disabled #disability #neurodivergent #adhd #autism #chronicpain #mentalillness #depression #anxiety

Happy Autism Awareness Day, my autistic friends! 💙

#ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Autism #Neurodivergent #WorldAutismAwarenessDay