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Schools Bill MP letter / email template
I have created this template for people to use in whatever way you think will be helpful, including sharing with your local MP. Don’t know your MP? Find them here. Dear _____ I have some major concerns over the proposed Schools Bill, as the bill shall: 1. Make it more difficult for home educators to…
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The Schools Bill – making education harder for Disabled children
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Attention hyperactivity: ditching the ‘disorder’ and ‘deficit’
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Autistic parenthood: mental load burnout
People tell you a lot about parenting but what they never explain is just how much mental load it takes up: all of it. As an Autistic, Attention Hyperactive person I struggle a lot with mental load. I experience consistent executive dysfunction and I forget things easily. Then I am overly harsh with myself when…
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The trouble with puzzle pieces
Historically the Autistic community have been represented by primary coloured puzzle pieces. Although this symbol can be interpreted many ways there are inherent problems with it. It was first used to represent ‘childhood schizophrenia’, the first modern label of what we now know to be autism. The primary colours were used to show that it…
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Autistic parenthood: where has my self-care gone?
I have always struggled with self-care, both physical and emotional, and I still often forget and avoid things which would actively make me feel better: showers, tooth brushing, haircuts, down time, relaxing (what’s that!?). They have always been tasks that I’ve struggled with due to inertia (see Autistic Inertia) and my skipping delightfully around demands…
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Trans and / or non-binary Autistic narratives: research poster
In 2020 I started my MRes at University of Portsmouth, researching trans and / or non-binary Autistic narratives. I wanted to make my work free and accessible to as many people as possible. Participants have given informed consent for me to publish this information, all identities will be kept confidential in line with UoP’s ethics…
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Living at the blurry edges of gender and neurotype
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What Pride means to me
Queer pride is a difficult one for those of us who feel things differently. Do I know what pride feels like? Probably not, not in a way I could explain anyways. Feeling and showing pride as an alexithymic person is difficult (read Alexithymia and interoception: what the Hell is going on!?). Pride, and other feelings,…
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Alexithymia and interoception: What the Hell is going on!?
Alexithymia is a condition or difference, which roughly translates in ancient Greek as “no words for emotions.” People who experience alexithymia can have difficulty identifying feelings, describing feelings to others and distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal. Alexithymia is a common experience for us Autistic folk – I have issues with…