-
Navigating the Challenges of School Drop-Offs
Starting school has been an emotional and overwhelming experience for our family. Managing drop-offs, pick-ups, and navigating various apps for lunches and updates complicate routines. The chaotic environment during school runs, filled with crying children and crowded areas, adds to the stress. It feels exhausting, yet we’re grateful Little Man is excited to attend.
-
Embracing Authenticity in Academic Presentations
The author reflects on speaking at various queer and autistic conferences, emphasizing the challenges of conforming to normative presentation styles. They found comfort in familiar environments and shared experiences with attendees. Despite difficulties, they aimed for a conversational approach, valuing personal storytelling and community engagement over traditional presentation norms.
-
The Importance of Accessibility at London Trans+ Pride
I attended my first London Trans+ Pride with a friend, experiencing an accessible event that drew over 100,000 people. Highlights included an Accessible Bloc, interpreter support, and designated quiet spaces. The march emphasized solidarity, joy, and inclusivity, ensuring everyone could participate fully. I look forward to returning next year.
-
Transforming Cancer Services: Voices of the Neurodivergent
In 2023, the project “What I’d Like to Say” project examined the experiences of disabled and neurodivergent individuals with cancer services. Following the initial findings, phase two focused on solutions, gathering suggestions for improvement through discussions and art-based methods. A new screening project aims to enhance service experiences for marginalized communities.
-
Understanding the Gender Gap in Autism Diagnosis
The historical perception of autism as primarily a male condition has led to a significant diagnosis gap for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. While theories like the Female Autism Phenotype have emerged, they often reinforce gender stereotypes and exclude marginalized groups, complicating access to support and erasing diverse autistic experiences.
-
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.
-
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…
-
Working with healthcare providers to improve cancer and general healthcare services
The Trans Aware Cancer Care (TACC) project engages with trans+ individuals about their healthcare experiences, particularly regarding cancer services. Key themes include distrust in providers, the impact of advocacy fatigue, and the need for personalized care. Despite challenges, positive experiences highlight the importance of respect and rapport in healthcare. The aim is to improve services…
-
Not all of me
-
UK cervical screening: What you need to know
Today, I went for a routine cervical screening. In the UK people aged 25-49 receive invitations every 3 years and people aged 50-64 receive invitations every 5 years. I was invited via letter and popped into my surgery to get it booked in. I wanted to share my experience today for people who may have not…