My life and PhD researching autistic people, gender identity, mental health
Sitting at the end of probably the worst week ever that would have been possible to begin a year with. Four days in, we have entered another national lockdown, with the children off school again, after having been back only one day. I am sitting here getting angrier and angrier with the issues I am…
I am a late identified autistic individual who was born biologically female and remains so, but identifies as genderqueer. My sexuality and, following on from this, relationships, have been diverse exciting and often challenging because of the path less trodden that I have chosen, but also because the difference of autistic experience I that have…
Although I have found lock down incredibly stressful and challenging, as most people have, a review of my photo stream on Google of the last five months reveals just how much fun, love and enjoyment we have had together since we all started socially distancing in March. Highlights for me have included developing my sour-dough…
It is time to close the mental health gap that autistic women experience Autistic people deserve good mental health just as much as their non-autistic peers. Jenn Layton Annable, an autistic woman and master’s student, explains why good quality co-produced research is needed to address this. Autistic people matter. Autistic women matter. There is, however,…
The book that I contributed to (here is a link to the publication page), as my first authorship, was published last month. We received some really positive testimonials from experts across a number of fields on the blurb section on the back. ‘This must-read research-based text represents a step-change in our understanding of neurodiversity;…
A rather fab poem that I return to from time to time when I am feeling deflated. I like the sentiment. It reminds me to keep going and enjoy the journey. “If you think you are beaten, you are If you think you dare not, you don’t, If you like to win, but you think…
The last three months have been so fraught trying to work and study and parent during lock-down I have hardly had time to think, let alone write about what has been going on. The good news is that I have completed my literature review which has had some amazing feedback (including an offer for support…
Hope Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune–without the words, And never stops at all, And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I’ve heard it in the chillest…
To whom it may concern, Autistic people struggle with many things that their neurotypical peers can not only cope well with but also enjoy and thrive in. These might include include busy spaces, socialising with friends, meeting new people, travelling or employment in a lively work place. For many autistic people these situations are our…
In 2019 I have made retreat several times, including in May when I attended a mindfulness weekend, which I blogged about previously. Although it was not as successful as I had hoped, one of the most positive things to come out was me meeting Catherine Booker, a beautiful and very talented woman who creates wonderful…