Sign in

Dr 🫥

@draevans.bsky.social
820 followers 650 following 868 posts

An unpaid carer. Autism, dyslexia. Former soldier. I rant at the machine. No DMs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Author of “A practical guide to autism”. Available from Pavilion. amzn.eu/d/evXQGOv Science & evidence first!

PostsRepliesMedia
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Many people think there is an over diagnosis crisis. Reality is quite different. The consequences of the wait are life changing in a bad way. Autism is a quarry, accept it and diagnose early or accept the profound consequences www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
‘Her mental health deteriorated’: family forced to wait years for autism diagnosis
A mother describes the frustration of endless waiting lists and difficulties getting appointments so her teenage daughter can get the help she requires
010
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Many people often have no idea about autism and the assumptions people make about diagnosed autistic people. In the DSM V, there are 3 levels of autism based on supposed need and support. It assumes level 1 has considerably less need & support than level 3.
142
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Some different journeys ADHD journeys here. Please and understand how complex this is. But I am surprised by the claim that a private ADHD diagnosis was made by zoom and little robust and in depth scrutiny took place. www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
thetimes.com
Why are so many teenagers on benefits for ADHD?
Pip claims of up to £780 a month are soaring with no rules on how it’s spent. It may be vital for some with the condition, but experts fear it can trap children on welfare
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Many people often have no idea about autism and the assumptions people make about diagnosed autistic people. In the DSM V, there are 3 levels of autism based on supposed need and support. It assumes level 1 has considerably less need & support than level 3.
142
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
On 21 October every year Cymru remembers a preventable tragedy. We remember #Aberfan where 116 children & 28 adults perished. #Cofiwch Aberfan
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Who would have thought mental illness would kill you? Moreover who would have thought it would shorten someone’s life by nearly two decades? So tell me again why mental illness is not a disability and people suffering should not get PIP? www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Adults with severe mental illness die 15 to 20 years earlier from diseases such as cancer
Exclusive: Stark health inequalities in terms of deaths before age of 75, NHS data reveals
002
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Another needless death. Some people think ADHD is made up. Others that it is something mild or just an excuse. Sadly such ignorance kills. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Runcorn woman died after three-year ADHD assessment wait, report says
Bethany Hewitt was referred for an ADHD assessment in February 2023 but died earlier this year.
002
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I have always thought that the push towards neurodivergence rather than autism etc would have consequences. This paper suggests my assumption is correct! jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Clinical Diagnoses, Neurodiversity, and Neurodivergence in Mental Health Research
This scoping review evaluates clinical diagnoses associated with the terms neurodivergence and neurodiversity in the empirical mental health literature.
001
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
ADHD & family stress. Some families sharing a journey with autism have combat levels of stress. I can’t see why ADHD would have been any different. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13… (Paper from @PaulWhiteleyPhD)
journals.sagepub.com
011
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
When you share a journey with ADHD or autism you fight tooth & nail with education & local government professionals to secure ANY support. Always an argument of “not bad enough” & an expense rather than an investment in some one’s potential. www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/yout...
psychologytoday.com
Too Little, Too Late? Why Early Support for ADHD Matters
Timely support can alter life trajectories for those with ADHD.
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
ADHD & family stress. Some families sharing a journey with autism have combat levels of stress. I can’t see why ADHD would have been any different. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13… (Paper from @PaulWhiteleyPhD)
journals.sagepub.com
011
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Another needless death. Some people think ADHD is made up. Others that it is something mild or just an excuse. Sadly such ignorance kills. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Runcorn woman died after three-year ADHD assessment wait, report says
Bethany Hewitt was referred for an ADHD assessment in February 2023 but died earlier this year.
002
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Mental heath matters & the meaningful, timely and appropriate support is paramount. This needless death shows much further we need to go to square thus circle www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Lyme Regis teenager took own life after care delays, inquest told
The family's barrister says the 16-year-old's mental health care "was not escalated quickly enough".
010
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
“The hours run down The days pass on One achievement remains: Merely existing “ This poem by Hannah Arendt sums up the life disabled people are expected to have.
010
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The BMA has responded to the Channel 4 documentary. Everyone should read the article. lnkd.in/eskpVJEq
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
001
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
An interesting article. Sadly in my POV this totally ignores the reality of autism & presents a “some people are more autistic” narrative. Once again level 3 appears to be the only ones deserving of support. Needs are different not less. apple.news/Auzsk8o22TWO... Please read
apple.news
What if the idea of the autism spectrum is completely wrong? — New Scientist
For years, we've thought of autism as lying on a spectrum, but emerging evidence suggests that it comes in several distinct types. The implications for how we support autistic people could be profound
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
The Autism Act requires a strategy. The current on is expiring . As welfare, over diagnosis and other attacks on disabled people continues I don’t expect s new strategy despite the law. Here’s why policybrief.org/briefs/autis...
policybrief.org
Autism risks becoming invisible in England’s policy agenda - Policy Brief
Failing the Autism Act
000
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
A few years ago this was published. Given the current direction of travel it has never been more needed: amzn.eu/d/03qeseMn
amzn.eu
A Practical Guide to Autism: Support for Parents and Carers
Buy A Practical Guide to Autism: Support for Parents and Carers by Andy Evans (ISBN: 9781803883915) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
012
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Please read LeDeR 24 www.kcl.ac.uk/news/fewer-p...
kcl.ac.uk
Fewer people with a learning disability dying from avoidable causes, but still almost twice as high as the general population | King's College London
New report from King's College London, University of Lancashire and Kingston University London, has found that the proportion of avoidable deaths among adults with a learning disability fell from 46.3...
000
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
This matters more than ever
022
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
A few years ago this was published. Given the current direction of travel it has never been more needed: amzn.eu/d/03qeseMn
amzn.eu
A Practical Guide to Autism: Support for Parents and Carers
Buy A Practical Guide to Autism: Support for Parents and Carers by Andy Evans (ISBN: 9781803883915) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
012
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
This matters more than ever
022
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Artm💫💫n @legoutervivre111.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
youtu.be/rrlVw1xG02c?... #wf3 issues
youtu.be
Rollin' (Urban Assault Vehicle)
YouTube video by Limp Bizkit - Topic
101
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
This matters
011
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Today is Father’s Day in the UK. Some dads won’t get a card, or a silly gift, they will carry on as normal doing their 24/7/365 job as an unpaid carer. Hats of to each and every one of them!
011
Reposted by Dr 🫥
BYTESEU @byteseu.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Masked and Misunderstood, the Hidden Cost of Being “Quirky” www.byteseu.com/2075577 Autistic women represent a diagnostically complex and historically overlooked subgroup within autism research. High rates of camouflaging, internalized symptom expression, and gender‑based social …
byteseu.com
Masked and Misunderstood, the Hidden Cost of Being “Quirky” - Bytes Europe
Autistic women represent a diagnostically complex and historically overlooked subgroup within autism research. High rates of camouflaging, internalized
054
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
This matters
011
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Some people believe autism & ADHD is made up. Some people believe both are caused by vaccines. Often these people are the same people. So if autism is made up how is it caused by vaccines?
022
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
This is really great news from @DWP . I hope it is extended to all job coaches, auditors & security staff. www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
DWP puts disabled people first: Thousands of health staff complete landmark autism and learning disabilities training
Training tackles harmful assumptions about disability and ensures staff make practical, meaningful adjustments for the people they serve.
011
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Autism is complicated, nuanced & subtle. Many people currently claim it as part of their identity. Often identity is more important than autism. Also emphasis on identity diverts attention from autistic people. Please read & understand what is at stake. apple.news/AlUsMuuJBSVK...
apple.news
Commentary | ‘Autism is not a vibe’: the cost of making a condition an identity — The Australian
Social media has turned mental health awareness into a disturbing trend where ‘a touch of the tism’ becomes self-diagnosis.
131
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Some people believe autism & ADHD is made up. Some people believe both are caused by vaccines. Often these people are the same people. So if autism is made up how is it caused by vaccines?
022
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Autism is complicated, nuanced & subtle. Many people currently claim it as part of their identity. Often identity is more important than autism. Also emphasis on identity diverts attention from autistic people. Please read & understand what is at stake. apple.news/AlUsMuuJBSVK...
apple.news
Commentary | ‘Autism is not a vibe’: the cost of making a condition an identity — The Australian
Social media has turned mental health awareness into a disturbing trend where ‘a touch of the tism’ becomes self-diagnosis.
131
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Neurodivergence -another meaningless word? Guaranteed those with opinions will disagree. But having read the paper it does offer an alternative view that explores the concept. www.bmj.com/content/392/...
bmj.com
Autism and ADHD: does the global rise in diagnosed neurodivergence reflect increased awareness of undiagnosed cases?
Diagnoses of autism and other neurodivergence are rising. Jessica Eccles and Elizabeth Weir say that the trend is real—and that claims of “overdiagnosis” and insistence on exact case numbers are unhel...
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
If autism is glamorous why hasn’t @voguemagazine picked up the trend? www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...?
dailymail.co.uk
Autism has become 'glamorised' and diagnosis 'desirable', expert warns
Dame Uta Frith, who pioneered research that underpins autism, warned the expansion of the label to include people who suffer from conditions such as anxiety has brought the framework to 'collapse'.
021
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
ADHD and sleep www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
frontiersin.org
Frontiers | ADHD as a circadian rhythm disorder: evidence and implications for chronotherapy
Accumulating evidence indicates that circadian rhythm dysfunction is a clinically significant and highly prevalent phenotype in a substantial subgroup of ind...
100
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus I chi a’r teulu hefyd. 🌼🌼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Nothing tells me how ignorant some people are than when they wish to enforce a regulation undermines the safety of an autistic child. some www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...
telegraph.co.uk
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Today an anorexic autistic child tried to harm herself again. The police have saved her again from jumping off a bridge. Her single is facing a wall of indifference from MH services. Why is this so bloody hard?
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
This
000
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Ignore the headline- understand the consequences for autistic people www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/givi...
psychologytoday.com
Masking as an Evolutionary Advantage
Autistic masking may be an evolved survival response to social risk: useful for belonging, but costly when sustained over a lifetime.
000
Reposted by Dr 🫥
nddpsych @nddpsych.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
The Impact of Inclusive Education Practices on Students With ASD'S Outcomes: Report From the ELENA French Cohort Study - Rattaz et al - Autism Research - 2026 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
001
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Words matter with autism, anxiety & ADHD. When some one is in the pit of despair they don’t need: A clever anecdote A story that shows your suffering A “there there” to patronise A “it’s not that bad” to trivialise the pain Remember it is not your hole, so listen
032
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
As a sandwich unpaid carer empathy is important. But so is knowing when to be practical. Empathy empowers but also creates the need for respite. Learn a little about empathy & the consequences. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thre...
psychologytoday.com
Don't Drown in Empathy
Discover why understanding others’ perspectives—without absorbing their pain—can transform your relationships, boost resilience, and prevent burnout.
031
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
If you believe self-diagnosis gets you PIP you have been duped. PIP requires overlapping & overwhelming evidence. PIP is applications & assessments contain overlapping & open ended questions designed to spot fibs. PIP fraud is statistically ZERO.
011
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
Words matter with autism, anxiety & ADHD. When some one is in the pit of despair they don’t need: A clever anecdote A story that shows your suffering A “there there” to patronise A “it’s not that bad” to trivialise the pain Remember it is not your hole, so listen
032
Reposted by Dr 🫥
BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
You have two types of Political Party in the UK. "Lets tax the rich and make things better for everyone." Or "Lets blame Immigrants, Disabled People and Pensioners so we can get in a party who will make the billionaires even richer and things worse for everyone else."
1530492
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
As an unpaid carer it easier to say “fine” because most people are ignorant or indifferent. Most of life is spent repairing this track.
010
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
As a sandwich unpaid carer empathy is important. But so is knowing when to be practical. Empathy empowers but also creates the need for respite. Learn a little about empathy & the consequences. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thre...
psychologytoday.com
Don't Drown in Empathy
Discover why understanding others’ perspectives—without absorbing their pain—can transform your relationships, boost resilience, and prevent burnout.
031
Reposted by Dr 🫥
Autism in Adulthood @autisminadulthood.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
DON’T MISS: Mazefsky et al (2025) shows how autism researchers can design studies that will identify new areas for suicide prevention and intervention by adopting a multi-method, dimensional approach to mental health. FREE until 24th December www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
liebertpub.com
Advancing Research on Suicide and Mental Health in Autistic Adults Through a Research Domain Criteria-Inspired Framework | Autism in Adulthood
Given the dearth of research on adulthood in autism prior to the last decade, we need methods to accelerate progress. One area of interest is mental health, but studies focusing on isolated methods or...
2124
Dr 🫥 @draevans.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
000