Nick WalkerMay 14, 2025

This coming Monday, May 19, the OPEN Foundation will be hosting me and my esteemed friend & colleague Dr. Alicia Danforth for a conversation about autism & psychedelics!

It's free, it's on Zoom, and everything else I know about it can be found here:
https://open-foundation.org/events/online/autism-and-psychedelics-a-conversation/

#autistic #autisticwellbeing #autisticvoices #mentalhealth #psychology #psychotherapy #psychedelics #psychedelictherapy #psychedelicresearch #psychedelicscience #Consciousness #cognition #neurodiversity #neurodivergence

Autism and Psychedelics: A Conversation with Alicia Danforth and Nick Walker - OPEN Foundation

Psychedelic-assisted therapy holds unique potential for supporting autistic and neurodivergent individuals—but also presents distinct challenges. Join Dr. Alicia Danforth and Dr. Nick Walker for an open conversation on neurodiversity, autism, and the importance of designing inclusive, empowering treatment protocols. Moderated by Daan Keiman, psychedelic chaplain and educational lead at the OPEN Foundation.

OPEN Foundation
Rachel McDoveMar 3, 2025
Beautiful snail shells make me so happy.

The depth of joy that we can experience by engaging with our special interests is glorious!

#SnailMagic #Autistic #AutisticSpecialInterests #AutisticWellbeing
Anna NicholsonAug 22, 2023

The closing keynote is by @ferrous, on monotropism and wellbeing

(Background on monotropism: https://monotropism.org)

Monotropism is basically a tendency to have tightly focused attention/interest at any given time, and is a leading theory of Autism, explaining more of the standard Autistic traits without assuming deficits than most mainstream theories

#SARG2023 #monotropism #AutisticWellbeing #ActuallyAutistic

Monotropism

the mind as an interest system

Monotropism
Show threadAnna NicholsonAug 22, 2023

Across studies, important factors influencing wellbeing in Autistic adults:

• Perceived stress
• Social support
• Employment
• Age of diagnosis

e.g., Atherton et al., 2021; Mason et al.,
2018; McQuaid et al., 2022)

#SARG2023 #AutisticWellbeing

Autism News InternationalMar 25, 2023
Autistics Incarcerated: The dark underbelly of the NHS

https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/03/25/autistics-incarcerated-the-dark-underbelly-of-the-nhs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=autistics-incarcerated-the-dark-underbelly-of-the-nhs

#MentalHealthTreatmentRights #AutisticsIncarcerated #AutisticWellbeing #institutionalised #actuallyautistic #carcerativecare #AutisticRights #institution #psychiatric #disability #Healthcare #psychiatry #inpatient #psychward #autistic #Society
Autistics Incarcerated: The dark underbelly of the NHS - Emergent Divergence

This evening, I took it upon myself to watch Channel 4's documentary on the abuse of Autistic people in psychiatric institutions. As I sit here reflecting on the way the Autistic participants were treated by those meant to care for them, I will confess that I have shed some tears of my own. I am

Emergent Divergence
Autism News InternationalMar 9, 2023
CAMHS in crisis: The systemic failing of Autistic people

https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/03/09/camhs-in-crisis-the-systemic-failing-of-autistic-people/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=camhs-in-crisis-the-systemic-failing-of-autistic-people

#institutionalisedparentcarerblame #MentalHealthTreatmentRights #AutisticWellbeing #actuallyautistic #neurodivergence #systemicfailure #AutisticRights #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #MentalHealth #parentblame #Healthcare #autistic
CAMHS in crisis: The systemic failing of Autistic people - Emergent Divergence

I recently wrote an article about my experiences as a former patient of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service). In this article, I spoke about the effect that failing to support me properly had on my developing individuality and the immense suffering it led to in my early adult life (please find the article

Emergent Divergence
Autism News InternationalFeb 26, 2023
CAMHS nearly killed me, and it’s not okay.

https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/02/26/camhs-nearly-killed-me-and-its-not-okay/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=camhs-nearly-killed-me-and-its-not-okay

#MentalHealthTreatmentRights #substanceaddiction #AutisticCommunity #AutisticWellbeing #addictionrecovery #actuallyautistic #neurodivergence #substancemisuse #AutisticRights #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #traumarecovery #camhssurvivor #drugaddiction #schizophrenia #schizophrenic
CAMHS nearly killed me, and it’s not okay. - Emergent Divergence

I don't talk about my childhood much. Partly because I don't want to upset my readers, but also because it is not my story alone to tell. The people who did so much harm to me as a child also caused harm to others that I love immensely. A sad part of my life is

Emergent Divergence
Autism News InternationalFeb 17, 2023
Power dynamics and mental health: Neurofuturist discourse of mental health

https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/02/17/power-dynamics-and-mental-health-neurofuturist-discourse-of-mental-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=power-dynamics-and-mental-health-neurofuturist-discourse-of-mental-health

#MentalHealthTreatmentRights #powerthreatmeaningframework #neurodiversitymovement #neurodiversityparadigm #AutisticWellbeing #pathologyparadigm #GeneralWellbeing #NeuroqueerTheory
Power dynamics and mental health: Neurofuturist discourse of mental health - Emergent Divergence

When we consider power dynamics, we often consider our external environment and how power flows through the various parts of society, and where privilege is afforded by that power. While discussion of intersectionality and power dynamics is important when considering where discourse comes from and how it affects groups of people, we often don't think

Emergent Divergence
Autism News InternationalFeb 16, 2023
BBC’s “Inside the Autistic Mind” documentary has some awful resources online

https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/02/16/bbcs-inside-the-autistic-mind-documentary-has-some-awful-resources-online/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bbcs-inside-the-autistic-mind-documentary-has-some-awful-resources-online

#differentnotdisordered #insidetheAutisticmind #doubleempathyproblem #AutisticCommunity #AutisticWellbeing #actuallyautistic #simonbaron-cohen #AutisticRights #neurodiversity #sbc
BBC’s “Inside the Autistic Mind” documentary has some awful resources online - Emergent Divergence

To put this in context, you can visit the Open University web page where these resources are housed here. Many people are talking about the BBC's latest documentary on autism and finding it refreshingly validating. However, the resources that have been put up online by co-producers at the Open University are exceedingly outdated and missing

Emergent Divergence
Autism News InternationalFeb 10, 2023
Drug use, addiction, and neuroqueering

https://emergentdivergence.com/2023/02/10/drug-use-addiction-and-neuroqueering/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=drug-use-addiction-and-neuroqueering

#AutisticWellbeing #NeuroqueerTheory #actuallyautistic #neuroqueertheory #neurodivergence #neurodiversity #neurodivergent #Neuroqueering #actuallyaudhd #environmental #MentalHealth #actuallyadhd #substanceuse #environment #exploration #philosophy #neuroqueer #psychonaut #Addiction #childhood
Drug use, addiction, and neuroqueering - Emergent Divergence

I have extensively explored my Autistic relationship with addiction thus far. I have considered and lamented the inappropriate treatment services, the suffering, and rejoiced in the moment that I came out the other side. I have listed numerous reasons that contributed to my active addiction, but what I have not done is really drive home

Emergent Divergence - Addiction, Mental Health, and the Autistic Experience