iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This was such a good session! Kay rocked it and as an educator I loved the interactivity she brought to the presentation. It was awesome to hear from her, Lee, Kristen, and Lela about different program options that are out there that support neurodivergent students in higher education.

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 19/09/2026

Now at Stanford Neurodiversity Summit: Innovations in supports for Neurodivergent College Students, with Kristen Gillespie, Charis "Kay" Rodgers, Lee Burdette Williams, and Lela Fluker. #SNS2026

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Love this slide: Neurodiversity light: you can't fake it. Loth describes the importance of not just paying lip service but actually treating autistic people as knowledgeable participants

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Her language choices were neurodiversity affirming, she referenced specific autistic researchers and autistic designed frameworks. She specifically addressed team demographics and concerns about masking among those researchers. This has been a refreshing presentation after the last one.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I'm much happier to have listened to the presentation by Dr. Loth describing the ways that a research program moved from consultation to shared governance with autistic participants and the ways that this evolved across time. #SNS2026

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

They describe “participatory testing" which suggests autistic people only being involved in the testing phase but not in the decision making or design.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

When asked about the demographics of the research team as far as neurotypes and the response was about race but didn't address whether any ND researchers were involved.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Responses on a question about whether this encourages masking, the response was to basically say that the participants liked the program without addressing whether the program itself is encouraging masking in what it is teaching

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

And at the end of the presentation they pay lip service to the Double Empathy Problem, listing it on the slide without addressing whether they considered the way that it would influence their work. They didn't say anything about the fact that their perspectives do not consider autistic perspectives.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

In video examples of practice conversations, the NT conversation partner did not model interest back to what the participant said about themselves; she didn't respond with interest to the participant's statements. But the participant was getting framed as deficient for the same behavior.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

She listed feedback that the program was helpful that listed only outsiders (parents, teachers) and not the words of autistic participants themselves.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

She describes an AI based "intervention" that teaches social skills, describing some very autistic social responses as incorrect and neuronormative responses as correct

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

At my first session at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit and I'm deeply disappointed. The keynote from Dr Koegel started off by describing people in the autism spectrum, using person first language in spite of the preference for the overwhelming majority of autistic people.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Echolalia is not a breakdown in language. It is a continuation of the same tools humans use to learn, play, connect, and make meaning. The only difference is visibility.

Language is not a test to pass. It is a relationship to participate in.

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Reposted by Jamie Chase (she/they)

DR. Ashley the Charlatan @becauseimatter.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Society: we want you to be able to work, even disabled Disabled person with a job but needs accommodation or simply understanding Society: no, not like that Now disabled person without a job needs assistance to live Society: stop being lazy & get a job Yall, we can’t win

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Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) @autisticadvocacy.org · 26/06/2026

New blog post! Libby Banks writes about grief and the different ways it can impact autistic people. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/06/auti...

Orange gradient background with large light orange stripes going across in different directions. There is a light blue diagonal stripe in the top left corner. In large blue text, “New Blog Post!” goes across one of the orange stripes near the top. There’s a quote box that is light blue with rounded corners, inside is the quote, “This piece is for the autistic people who have been told, by themselves or others, that they are grieving incorrectly. It is for the people whose grief arrived three years late, or in fragments at the wrong moments, or who still don’t know whether what they’re feeling is grief or something else.” Across a lower orange stripe is the text: Libby Banks — Autistic Grief: You’re Not Doing It Wrong

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Reposted by Jamie Chase (she/they)

👻🕯️ Human Depleted Big Natural Resources🕯️👻 @dagnificent.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

your poor autistic body feels and holds on to the stress. just because you've taught yourself not to feel it, doesn't mean you're not paying the price. many autistic accommodations can be invisible. if you suspect you may be on the spectrum, i urge you to be curious about that. it's really ok.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

That really sucks. It hurts to be rejected when you reveal your truth but once you embrace that authentic self, it gets easier to find other people who do too! But ... that doesn't stop it from feeling really crappy right now. I am sorry that happened to you.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

So much yes. Communication is often a lot of work, but sometimes mouthwords feel so much harder than other forms of communication, physically and mentally. Sometimes it feels like it takes more energy to speak than it's worth, so I just don't.

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Reposted by Jamie Chase (she/they)

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 02/05/2026

The #AutINSAR #INSAR2026 recap is live! AutINSAR is an online and in-person discussion about autistic priorities in autism research, and is an invaluable resource for researchers who want to help autistic people live their best lives: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/05/auti... #neurodiversity #autism

thinkingautismguide.com

AutINSAR 2026: Highlighting Autistic Priorities in Autism Research — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM

AutINSAR is an annual discussion on autistic research priorities, during the annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research.

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Autism with Person (falling apart) @happyautist.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

It's not a fucking compliment to tell someone that they don't seem like they need accomodations. Hello, the reason you think I'm as competent as I am is BECAUSE I use the accomodations I'm granted. I still NEED them to be this amazing.

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John Marble @johnmarble.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I think my first time at INSAR I met ONE autistic autism researcher. At #INSAR2026, there aRE HUNDREDS. 💕♾️🙌

An image of a large room filled with autistic autism researchers.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Tonight was amazing. The Autistic Researchers Committee social at #insar2026 was an opportunity to connect with other autistic researchers and feel safe to be yourself. I sat at a table full of amazing people who comfortably info dumped about all the things for hours and enjoyed it thoroughly. 💛

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

It's definitely a high masking kind of job sometimes. Although I actually was able to unmask in my classroom with my autistic students more safely than anywhere else at school. At least when I'm doing it intentionally now, I can turn it off. Before I was diagnosed at 41, it was a constant drain.

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Reposted by Jamie Chase (she/they)

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 24/04/2026

Total ass & also HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked outrage among disability rights advocates by alleging widespread fraud in Medicaid programs that pay people to care for elderly or disabled family members—a system millions of Americans rely on to survive. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

nbcnews.com

RFK Jr. draws backlash for ripping Medicaid programs that pay people to care for relatives

Advocates for disabled people and those who care for them said they were insulted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s allegations that the programs are "rife with fraud."

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I do mask intentionally now that I understand what I'm doing and why. As a teacher, I masked my sensory issues and dysregulation to help students regulate or acted energetic and enthusiastic when I didn't feel it. It's purposeful. What I've done most of my life resulted from trauma & was protective.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Agreed! 💯 It is incredibly frustrating! And the app takes forever to load anything.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Oh gosh l hadn't noticed that! 😂 Awesome!

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Reposted by Jamie Chase (she/they)

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 24/04/2026

Milton: What does "level 1" autism tell you about someone? Nothing. His own children's support needs are varied and fall all over the place. Instead of #profoundAutism and subcategories, we need personalized, individual evaluations to actually help autistics. Socially, family, all of it. #INSAR2026

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Dr. Milton handled the question beautifully, stating that he wouldn't change his son, a person he loves spending time with. To the person who asked that question ... your behavior appears to reveal a severe impairment in social awareness and a lack of #empathy. Maybe you should work on that? 😉

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

When someone starts by acknowledging that it may not be appropriate to ask, they are openly aware their words may cause harm and chose them anyway. It hurts that people can be so uncaring like that. And I'm mad that the only question there was time for didn't focus on his amazing work at all.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Dr. Milton shared about his son, who is non-speaking with high support needs, and his personal feelings on the term "profound autism" a label he feels doesn't really add anything or help better understand his son. And he was asked if he could wave a magic wand to fix his son's life, would he?

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Today at #INSAR2026 started off with a huge high for me, as the keynote speech by Dr. Damien Milton was amazing! So much of what he shared resonated with my experiences, values, and research trajectory. It was also punctuated by one of the most insulting questions I can imagine...

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

I've met so many amazing and talented #autistic researchers here. It's so good to find community with people who understand and relate. I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to find other people who feel as passionate about what we're doing as I do. #echolaliacommunicates #nothingaboutuswithoutus

A person with red hair and rainbow glasses wearing a black blazer and red skirt stands beside a poster

A visual representation and description of the communication mapping method and how it evolved.

Background: Barriers in traditional research include deceit framing of echolalia, linear approaches through chronological interviews miss important sensory and relational memories, and when observable speech output is prioritized the sensory, somatic, and social functions of echolalia are missed

Theoretical grounding: This method centers epistemological justice by bringing together critical phenomenology, crip linguistics, disability justice, and the double empathy problem. Together these ideas challenge dominant assumptions of what counts as communication.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Today I was able to share a method I developed, Communication Mapping, with a poster presentation at the International Society of Autism Researchers #insar26 annual conference. Many who stopped by were open to both echolalic function and centering autistic interpretation of their own experiences.

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

There is no ethical or accurate way to teach, research, or practice around autism without engaging Autistic scholars. This has to change. #ActuallyAustistic #EpistemicInjustice

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

During April, there is a lot of token attention given to #Autism but #Autistic expertise is not often acknowledged. The absence of Autistic scholarship isn’t an accident. It’s a pattern. When we exclude Autistic voices, we don’t just miss perspective. We distort the entire field.

Autistic scholarship exists. And it's powerful. Damien Milton, Jac den Houting, Devon Price, Monique Botha, Remi Yergeau, Patrick Dwyer, Robert Chapman, Morenike Onaiwu, Steven K. Kapp, Dora Raymaker, TC Waisman, Stephen Shore and so many more!

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Jamie Chase (she/they) @jamiechase.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Trying to make my work space feel happy!

A hand holding an internally lit green frog lamp below a neon sign with a rainbow and the words "the future is inclusive"

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