Read on Twitter
Okay, everyone’s probably bored already with my ramblings. But before I leave you alone for a bit, I’m just setting up a meta-thread to collate stuff together. I will probably keep adding to this.
#UCUStrikesBack #UCUStrikes #AutisticUCU #ActuallyAutistic #AllAutistics
#UCUStrikesBack #UCUStrikes #AutisticUCU #ActuallyAutistic #AllAutistics
My original thread: https://twitter.com/nibbsy_a/status/1197557054845702144?s=21
The resulting guidance for autistic workers and UCU branch organisers, co-authored with the excellent @JanineBooth: https://twitter.com/nibbsy_a/status/1198722030163628037?s=21
Inclusive/accessible events and activities: https://twitter.com/nibbsy_a/status/1198646303342891009?s=21
My advice on supporting autistic students: https://twitter.com/nibbsy_a/status/1198908901313384448?s=21
Excellent thread from a student perspective, with some additional great practical advice for those picketing. https://twitter.com/sophwilliams28/status/1198878485697253376?s=21
Advice for autistic students, written BY an autistic student: https://twitter.com/sophwilliams28/status/1198895093442338819?s=21
I’m also going to start sharing some other threads on #autism, by other #ActuallyAutistic folks. Some may be only tangentially relevant, but if you’ve read my threads, you might wanna find out more... #AllAutistics
This one is insightful - it deals with disclosure. I’m fortunate in being mostly accepted and respected in my work context - but I’ve had to work VERY HARD at educating people. And I know I may also have limited myself professionally in some ways:
https://twitter.com/commaficionado/status/1199759841314643968?s=21 https://twitter.com/commaficionado/status/1199759841314643968
https://twitter.com/commaficionado/status/1199759841314643968?s=21 https://twitter.com/commaficionado/status/1199759841314643968
It should go without saying that autistics, as a group of people, are hecking diverse. But people often forget this, or don’t even realise it. And non-speaking autistics are among those who are most marginalised, silenced and oppressed:
https://twitter.com/ekverstania/status/1095803838462918656?s=21 https://twitter.com/ekverstania/status/1095803838462918656
https://twitter.com/ekverstania/status/1095803838462918656?s=21 https://twitter.com/ekverstania/status/1095803838462918656
Autism is an intersectional thing (like most things!). Autistic people of colour are HIDEOUSLY underdiagnosed and underrepresented - much of the world only ever encounters very white perspectives on autism and the autistic experience:
https://twitter.com/galdemzine/status/1170041527567028224?s=20 https://twitter.com/galdemzine/status/1170041527567028224
https://twitter.com/galdemzine/status/1170041527567028224?s=20 https://twitter.com/galdemzine/status/1170041527567028224
Female and non-binary autistics, as well as many LGBTQIA+ autistics of all genders, are also underdiagnosed and underrepresented. But there’s a real danger in gendering autism and autistic traits: https://autisticzebra.wordpress.com/2018/08/21/gendering-autistic-stimming-and-masking-takethemaskoff/
I’ll add more stuff, but I’ll be mostly offline for a few days. I’ve done two days of picketing and related activities, and it’s all been fab, but it’s given me a migraine. I’m still on strike, but need to rest. Solidarity, and keep up the good fight! 
#UCUStrikesBack #UCUstrike
#UCUStrikesBack #UCUstrike
...Well, technically I’m actually on holiday tomorrow and Friday as I had a personal, non-work thing pre-booked MONTHS AGO, but I’ll be back, raring to go (hopefully! 
) come Monday. Onwards! And goodnight.
) come Monday. Onwards! And goodnight.
Back to #UCUStrikesBack and #disability more generally, here’s an EXCELLENT thread w/ more advice on the accessibility of strike action. I‘m going to adopt the #CripTheStrike hashtag too - love it. #UCUStrikes #AutisticUCU #ActuallyAutistic #AllAutistics
https://twitter.com/matsonlawrence/status/1200481351486595073?s=21 https://twitter.com/matsonlawrence/status/1200481351486595073
https://twitter.com/matsonlawrence/status/1200481351486595073?s=21 https://twitter.com/matsonlawrence/status/1200481351486595073
And a return to Nibbsy’s #UCUStrikesBack Autism Edu-ma-cay-sheeun Round-up! In case you didn’t know about it, #neuroqueer is a thing (and a thing I very much subscribe to). Read more about being neuroqueer and the action of neuroqueering here:
https://neurocosmopolitanism.com/neuroqueer-an-introduction/
https://neurocosmopolitanism.com/neuroqueer-an-introduction/
There’s a HECK-TONNE of autistic people are LGBTQIA+. Proportionally way more than the non-autistic population.
There’s a huge overlap of trans Twitter with autistic Twitter. I follow and am friends with loads of people who are a part of, and contribute to, both of these spaces.
There’s a huge overlap of trans Twitter with autistic Twitter. I follow and am friends with loads of people who are a part of, and contribute to, both of these spaces.
This is an interesting article relevant to previous tweet.
[TW references to gender-exclusionary beliefs - which the author does NOT share - ABA therapy, and queer conversion therapy. But a very positive piece on the whole.] https://theaspergian.com/2019/10/19/life-between-two-spectrums-autism-gender-queerness-and-why-it-shouldnt-be-ignored/
[TW references to gender-exclusionary beliefs - which the author does NOT share - ABA therapy, and queer conversion therapy. But a very positive piece on the whole.] https://theaspergian.com/2019/10/19/life-between-two-spectrums-autism-gender-queerness-and-why-it-shouldnt-be-ignored/
If anyone needs a more BASIC explanation of what autism is, here’s one, at least:
http://www.autismacceptancemonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/AAM-What-Is-Autism.pdf
http://www.autismacceptancemonth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/AAM-What-Is-Autism.pdf
The autism spectrum isn’t linear. It isn’t a case of Autism Lite at one end / Total Hecking Full-Blown Autism at the other. We have “spiky” profiles and these are HUGELY diverse: https://the-art-of-autism.com/understanding-the-spectrum-a-comic-strip-explanation/
Confused by some of the terminology? This is handy: https://musingsofanaspie.com/working-definitions/
Prefer video content? This is a few years old, but still great. @neurowonderful has been producing excellent content - including videos, writing and visual art/design - on autism and related topics for bloody YEARS:
Another video - light-hearted but useful:
Things Not to Say to an Autistic Person https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/clip/fa871540-ba60-4e6b-8ccd-d11e5041ee3f
Things Not to Say to an Autistic Person https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/clip/fa871540-ba60-4e6b-8ccd-d11e5041ee3f
Another bloody excellent article explaining the “spectrum” - this is REALLY GREAT at explaining the problems with functioning labels and challenging a whole host of assumptions: https://theaspergian.com/2019/05/04/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/
The best way to find out about autism is to listen to autistic people (I will acknowledge, of course, that there are some lovely and highly knowledgeable allies out there, but I’m keen to uplift autistic voices here, first and foremost.).
If you like books, here’s a good place to start: https://autisticzebra.wordpress.com/book-reviews/
Looking for blogs to read? Have a gander at this list: https://anautismobserver.wordpress.com
I’ve mentioned non-speaking autistics already, and I’ve mentioned problems with functioning labels and how the “spectrum” is often misunderstood.
As a supposedly “verbal” autistic, the thread I’m linking to here is SO USEFUL, and something I relate to:
https://twitter.com/neurowonderful/status/1194339498173161472?s=21 https://twitter.com/neurowonderful/status/1194339498173161472
As a supposedly “verbal” autistic, the thread I’m linking to here is SO USEFUL, and something I relate to:
https://twitter.com/neurowonderful/status/1194339498173161472?s=21 https://twitter.com/neurowonderful/status/1194339498173161472
I often come across as super-hecking-verbal. The addition of ADHD to my neurological mix adds to this presentation.
The truth is more complex. Words are hard. Even written words. But I’ve come to the conclusion recently that I have a limited spoken communication “budget”.
The truth is more complex. Words are hard. Even written words. But I’ve come to the conclusion recently that I have a limited spoken communication “budget”.
It’s ONE of the (many) reasons I’ve had to limit my participation in #UCUStrike picketing. Another reason for that is social/emotional/information sensory overload, of course, but the “limited-talking-budget” thing is something else. And it’s a biggie.
I actually have the Speak Screen function enabled on my iPad - set to a speed appropriate for two-way conversation, and primed and ready to go should I need to communicate with people without talking and decide to type stuff into notes (or similar) instead.
But the truth is, I’m not sure if people would be willing - yet! - to accept the idea that someone like me would REALLY NEED TO NOT TALK SOMETIMES.
But every time I speak, there’s an element of active translation involved, and it’s exhausting. Writing’s also hard but not so bad.
But every time I speak, there’s an element of active translation involved, and it’s exhausting. Writing’s also hard but not so bad.
In an ideal world, I’d just draw everything.
Saw this today - it’s relevant. I come across as somewhat more sociable/socially-adept than some autistics. I think that’s partly ADHD, partly my personality and individual autism presentation. I still do a lot of the stuff in the thread below, though...
https://twitter.com/sneurotypicals/status/1201231849256697861?s=21 https://twitter.com/SNeurotypicals/status/1201231849256697861
https://twitter.com/sneurotypicals/status/1201231849256697861?s=21 https://twitter.com/SNeurotypicals/status/1201231849256697861
Re: previous tweet - be mindful of some of this stuff on the picket lines (and in work when - perish the thought - we’re all back there...). Not all autistics NEED friends - some are happy without. But many of us look for connection just as much as yr, um, typical neurotypical.
