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Closing Spectrum 10K: A Victory for Autistic Advocacy
Today the Autism Research Centre have published the Spectrum 10K consultation and what they plan to do next. During their consultation period they heard from over 500 Autistic people and parents/carers of Autistic children.The gap between the consultation finishing and their making the consultation public has been a long one (read Unpaused and Still Unethical).…
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I Didn’t See You There: Poetry book review
Usually, I start a book review with an introduction to the writer, however, this poetry collection is written under a pen name. Charlotte Gale decided to use a pseudonym so that she could write without restriction and protect her family. I Didn’t See You There is a poetry collection narrating Gale’s experience as an unrealised…
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Debunking the “COVID-19 Autism Risk”
Neilson’s work continues to add to growing information about how COVID-19 continues to harm pregnant people and their unborn babies. Unfortunately, this journalist decided to use a skewed version of this work to undermine Autistic people and pregnancy care researchers. The misogyny and ableism are mixed into a fine slurry in this article.
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2024 in Review: Advocacy Work and Community Connections
2024 was another very busy year for me and a very turbulent time for many of us worldwide. In the UK political violence towards transgender people, disabled people and other marginalised groups has continued to grow. The ban on puberty blockers for all transgender young people is the most recent attempt to bring us down.…
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Book review: A Guide to Autism and Psychosis by David Gray-Hammond
I have had the pleasure to be one of the first readers of David Gray-Hammond‘s newest book A Guide to Autism and Psychosis: Personal and Professional Insights From A Psychotic Mind. His previous books are informative, deep and personal. They read like a love letter to the Autistic community and a protest placard to improve…
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Taking Autistic researchers seriously
The author’s experience as a neurodivergent research assistant at a UK university highlights challenges in navigating administrative processes exacerbated by Covid-19. Despite their qualifications, they faced bureaucratic obstacles that led to frustration and workplace insecurity. This experience reinforced the importance of support and understanding for neurodivergent individuals in collaborative environments.
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Spectrum 10K: Consultation update
After an overwhelmingly large boycott from Autistic advocates, academics and many others on and offline, Spectrum 10K (a project aiming to collect the DNA and medical history of 10,000 Autistic people) was paused for ethical review. Ethical approval was re-granted with the caveat that consultation be conducted throughout the remainder of the project (read more…
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Autistic and living with cancer: What you need to know
This piece was written with Dr.Char Goodwin who is the lead researcher for the Autistic Experiences of Breast Cancer research project, a three-year project funded by Breast Cancer Now. They are exploring the cumulative effects of autism-specific barriers to healthcare in relation to cancer care, directly from Autistic people themselves. Katie Munday (me!) has been…
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Ode to a lost hat
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Reflections on social research
The author reflects on the essence of social research, emphasizing its role in fostering connection, empowerment, and community. Personal experiences highlight the importance of safe spaces for meaningful conversations, which can transform individuals and communities. The discourse critiques current research practices and advocates for deeper understanding beyond data, prioritizing love and connection in inquiry.