Autistic and Living the Dream

Category: Accessibility

  • When living authentically isn’t safe: Autistic, trans and OCD

    When living authentically isn’t safe: Autistic, trans and OCD

    This is the transcript from my OCD Family Podcast: When living authentically isn’t safe. Listen to S1E30 Part IV here. Nicole: Whoa, welcome back to the OCD family podcast and I am just so excited to introduce our guest today Katie Munday, they are late diagnosed autistic person with OCD and ADHD. You can catch…

  • My Autistic diagnosis story

    My Autistic diagnosis story

    I started working with Disabled young people when I was 23. Working with these young people, seeing how they went about in the world, how they focused on their interests, and their wonderful sense of humour. I just thought: “I do that. I completely and utterly understand what you mean when you say something which…

  • “Equality and diversity” – I am not your tick box exercise

    “Equality and diversity” – I am not your tick box exercise

    Whilst making ammendments on one of my job descriptions, I noticed the words “equality and diversity” and it caused a reaction in me. A strong reaction. One of my main job responsibilities (and that as a human being) is centering marginalised voices. Sharing stories with other Disabled, Neurodivergent and Queer people is fundamental to my…

  • My reflections on our cancer service accessibility research

    My reflections on our cancer service accessibility research

    Earlier this week I did my  first session with a disability group for our cancer services access study (find out more about that here). Although I cannot share any of the people’s really powerful insights here I would like to share how I felt about the session. The start of the session was very ADHD…

  • Stories from across the “double rainbow”: trans and non-binary Autistic narratives [plain language summary]

    Stories from across the “double rainbow”: trans and non-binary Autistic narratives [plain language summary]

    In my research I spoke to 13 trans and / or non-binary Autistic people (people said to live under the double rainbow of neurodivergence and queerness). I wanted to know about their lives, what they thought about representation and their recommendations for double rainbow research. It was important for me to do this work as…

  • Trans and Autistic: Accessing gender identity healthcare

    Trans and Autistic: Accessing gender identity healthcare

    I’m excited to finally be able to share a paper I have been working on with Harley Bruce and Steven Kapp entitled: Exploring the experiences of Autistic transgender and non-binary adults in seeking gender identity healthcare. Harley spoke to 17 Autistic trans and / or non-binary people from across the globe to better understand the…

  • The barriers to PhD application for ND folk

    The barriers to PhD application for ND folk

    I was speaking to a friend about how he was doing with his PhD application. He started the process after his Art History Masters and stopped a few months into application. The application is so confusing and relies entirely on someone’s ability to keep up with admin, scour inaccessible University websites, and finding the correct…

  • Trans and Autistic: no coercion, only care

    Trans and Autistic: no coercion, only care

    There is a strange fear around trans young people transitioning. So much of this is based in ignorance and very little understanding on the systems which support said young people. The words ‘coercion’, ‘forcing’ and ‘grooming’ are used by some people to deny children the chance to explore their gender in a safe environment with…

  • Supportive apprenticeships? A look at the new DfE initiative

    Supportive apprenticeships? A look at the new DfE initiative

    Finally, the Department for Education has released their plans for support for Disabled apprentices. Unfortunately, the wait was not worth it. Settings will have to apply for funding which then may be denied. In the same style as Education Health Care Plans (EHCP). This may mean that settings do not go for funding to support…

  • Recruitment: Improving cancer services for Disabled people

    Recruitment: Improving cancer services for Disabled people

    Edit: These sessions have now come to an end. They were conducted with community groups in spaces and ways which suited them. I am involved in this amazing work with another Disabled community researcher under Macmillan Cancer Support, Bournemouth University PIER, Involving People and Wessex Cancer Alliance. Improving cancer services for disabled people. Do you…