iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Kim Mears

Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Please keep donating. Xx

Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Almost a year & almost £3000 raised. This ebooklet is still available. To get it donate to a charity supporting aid in Gaza & send proof of donation to ndebooklet@outlook.com. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social @elainemcgreevy.bsky.social & many more. Minimum donation £8 pls. Thank you

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Tickets still available for this webinar next week.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Looking forward to running a workshop on autonomous communication & neurodiversity (2nd June). Will be sharing lots of fabulous research & lived experiences with references links. See below for the workshop tix & the recording - available for 3 months. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neurodiver...

eventbrite.co.uk

Neurodiversity and autonomous communication

This webinar will explore and discuss neurodiversity and it’s relevance to communication and AAC for autistic individuals.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Delighted to be asked and really looking forward to this programme. The group is so valuable. Come along if you can.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Thank you so much @cypmentalhealth.bsky.social for a fantastic lunch & learn about www.wordsmatters.org such important work to end childhood verbal abuse. youtu.be/ndIrEreK2nY?... great video & fab resources.

wordsmatters.org

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Today I went down a glorious rabbit hole reading about techno-ableism and techno-solutionism. So relevant to AAC where therapists prescribe rather than support. Loved Daryl Sellwood et al’s manifesto thank you!

media.tenor.com

a woman wearing headphones and a plaid shirt says how interesting

Alt: a woman wearing headphones and a plaid shirt says how interesting as she touches her face.

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Kylie Eleison @gonebabygone.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Today is the 35th anniversary of the Capitol Crawl, in which disabled activists discarded their mobility aids at the foot of the Capitol steps to climb them in support of passage of the Americans with Disabilities Ac. Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, 8, told reporters "I'll take all night if I have to!"

Three people in sky blue shirts and jeans climbing the steps of the US Capitol, including a young blonde girl wearing a red and white bandanna around her head and turning to look at the camera

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Ben Potts @ben-potts.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Please see the UPDATED poster as we are now offering payment. I’m looking for fellow #autistic, #ADHD, and #AuDHD adults to take part in a group discussion to help shape my PhD research on emergency department experiences 🏥🚨 🗓️ Online session // Tues 25th March #AutRes

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

youtube.com/watch?v=l8ns... Was compiling a workshop and rewatched this from last year. It’s brilliant. Thank you @yesthattoo.bsky.social

youtube.com

Explore The Land of Autistic Communication

YouTube video by AssistiveWare

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Dr Gavin R. Stewart @gavrobstew.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Our new qualitative paper exploring similarities and differences in quality of life of autistic/non-autistic folk in midlife and older age (led by 2 former students, with @proffrancescahappe.bsky.social and @goldage.bsky.social) is now out! Free access here: doi.org/10.1016/j.re... #AutRes 1/8

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Lisa Chapman @commonsenseslt.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com/2025/03/defi... Every individual within a community matters to the 'being' of that community. A community that others and excludes one of its members, is not a community at all.

a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com

Defining the meaning of community, or when no one should be cast adrift!

Organisations that profess to represent a given community must at all costs work to include all voices within that community. Mattering is a...

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Lisa Chapman @commonsenseslt.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

After years of trauma for my Autistic teen at physical schools, mainstream & specialist, & for us as a family, we have all benefited from education from home. Recently, he put into words why this was important & shared the idea of his ‘fuel bubble’. a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-f...

a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com

My Fuel Bubble

After years of traumatic experiences for my Autistic teen at physical schools, mainstream and specialist, and for us as a family, we have ...

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Autisticality @autisticality.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

A new series of condensed versions of my infographics. I hope people will find useful. This is one is about Autistic Experience - what it is, what it's not & what it "looks like". #autism #autistic #neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #neurodiverse #neurodiversity #AutisticExperience #AutisticJoy

What is Autistic Experience? To be Autistic is to experience communication, the sensory world, thinking and social interactions differently from non-Autistic people. An Autistic person is innately neurodivergent.

What is it not? An Autistic person is NOT disordered or ill (we need no cure!). Everyone is NOT 'a little bit Autistic'. Autistic experiences are NOT made up for attention. Autistic people and their experiences are NOT all the same.

There is no singular look or presentation of an Autistic person - each is different!

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The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Need help to take the first steps? This paper looks at an experience-centred approach to change. McGreevy et al (full text PDF): dspace.stir.ac.uk/retrieve/0a1... #NATPmentalhealth

Why does promoting experience sensitive adaptations in therapy plans matter?

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Autisticality @autisticality.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Autistic meltdowns. What are they, what are the signs, what are the causes and what helps. #autism #autistic #meltdowns #neurodivergent #meltdown #adhd #neurodiversity

"Meltdowns are external responses that are caused by being overwhelmed and can occur for both Autistic children AND adults. Meltdowns are not tantrums. Signs include anger, crying, self-harm, shouting or involuntary body movements.

Causes include:
Overwhelm from sensory overload or increased demands
Exhaustion (e.g. from excessive masking)
Changes (in routine, environments etc.)
Difficulty navigating a social situation/relationship
Feelings of rejection sensitivity

Everyone deals with meltdowns in their own way so ask the person what helps them most. Try to work out triggers for meltdowns to prevent them from happening in the first place. Do NOT punish or shame someone for having a meltdown."
Alt text ends

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Autisticality @autisticality.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I am an Autistic person. I cannot locate "autism" anywhere inside of me. It is who I am and there is nothing wrong with that. (if you are Autistic and you prefer being called a person with autism then that is your choice). #autism #autistic #autisticexperience #autisticpride #autisticjoy

4 potato characters. 1 saying "suffers from autism", 1 saying "on the spectrum", 1 saying "person with autism" and a rainbow potato saying "Autistic potato"

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Stimpunks Foundation @stimpunks.org · 03/03/2025

Weird Pride Day is tomorrow. Our Weird Pride Day celebration is tomorrow in our community Discord. Bring your stories, interests, stims, fashion, mobility devices, & sparklies. Let’s march forth on March Fourth and be proudly weird despite neuronormative domination.

stimpunks.org

Celebrate Weird Pride Day 2025 with Stimpunks

The 4th of March is Weird Pride Day. This is a day for people to embrace their weirdness, and reject the stigma associated with being weird. To publicly express pride in the things that make us…

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Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

As Muslims observe Ramadan, Zainab explains how this time can also come with increased pressure for people struggling with their mental health - and sets out a framework for managing mental wellbeing during Ramadan: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/managing-my-... #Ramadan #MentalHealth

Image: Young Black Muslim woman wearing a hijab is sat typing at her laptop, with colleagues stood beside her with clipboards. Text: Managing my mental health during Ramadan. By Zainab Shafan-Azhar.

Quote: For someone who has struggled with feelings of inadequacy, instead of perceiving increased worship as something that is encouraged, I would often see it as a form of pressure. I would constantly feel as though I should be doing more, and that what I was doing was not enough. Zainab Shafan-Azhar

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Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition @cypmentalhealth.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

That's why, alongside our partners we have called on the Government to take urgent and scalable action to to close the treatment gap, provide earlier support that prevents problems from escalating and tackle this crisis. Read more here: cypmhc.org.uk/publications...

cypmhc.org.uk

Future Minds Campaign | CYPMHC

In the face of a major and growing crisis in children and young people’s mental health, we have joined forces with Centre for Mental Health, the Centre for Young Lives, and YoungMinds, with the suppor...

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Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

I need help. To save a life. I need specific advice/insight - do you have it? Help to protect a child from dying due to a dearth of services and a lot of people saying things should change but no one actually doing anything. (I appreciate more than one of you will

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Robert Chapman @drrobertchapman.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

If anyone hasn't seen this, here is our critical neurodiversity studies conference call for abstracts. "We will focus on scholarship that synthesises a concern for neurodivergent liberation with other critical traditions and liberation movements globally." medhumsplatform.org/call-for-abs...

medhumsplatform.org

Call for Abstracts: Critical Neurodiversity Studies, 24–26 June 2025, Durham, UK

Submissions for Critical Neurodiversity Studies: Directions/Intersections/Contradictions close 28 February 2025.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

This 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 they have not changed! I’m saying it loudly for anyone who isn’t sure- changing words does not change attitudes & harmful bias. The words you use give you away. We see you advocates of PBS & we will call you out. Thank you Ann.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

This ebooklet is still available. Details below.

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Laura Hellfeld of Neurodivergent Nurse Consulting @laurahellfeld.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Open Letter Now Up on Substack In response to Bridget Phillipson warning parents of 'casual attitude to school attendance' Link in comments #SEND #SEN #teachers #education #parenting #disability

Photo of Bridget Phillipson taken giving a speech. She is standing at a podium and addressing a seated crowd. Phillipson has short, brown hair, is a pale person and is wearing a dark suit. White text 'Open Letter to Bridget Phillipson'

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

I’m very pleased to report that my dissertation is now live on the open university website & accessible for free. I would love to know what others think & always happy to chat more. oro.open.ac.uk/102586/

oro.open.ac.uk

The Open University

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Dana Goldberg @dgcomedy.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

When asked if he was going to visit the crash site he said, ‘what site? The water? You want me to go swimming?’ This is one of the last pics of the young skaters who died. He’s a sociopath. Anyone who voted for this monster should be ashamed at best.

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Caroline Keep @ka83k.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

The scandal that noone wants to talk about in the UK ⬇️. Why? Because we have no idea how horrific it is. We have ZERO idea of the widespread nature of this .... and the victims often can't communicate the abuse. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

Learning-disabled and autistic people are being neglected and tortured. How much longer? | John Harris

Across the UK, revelations of institutional abuse keep mounting up, yet people are still being denied basic respect, says Guardian columnist John Harris

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

In celebration of reaching 900 followers, I’m reposting this. Please support if you can. Info below. Donate, email proof to ndebooklet@outlook.com & it will be on its way to you. Audio version available. Thx

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Supertanskiii @supertanskiiii.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

It started with conspiracy and propaganda then evolved into dehumanisation - spreading distrust, fear and disgust about the target. The powerless were given a group to blame, the illusion of power. The techniques used now are the same. It’ll only happen again if people let it. Sadly, they are…

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Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Fascism doesn’t arrive in uniform overnight. It arrives with suited politicians, one piece of legislation — or executive order — at a time. My piece for @tribunemagazine.bsky.social to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. tribunemag.co.uk/2025/01/jere...

tribunemag.co.uk

Jeremy Corbyn: Remembering Auschwitz, Fighting Today

As we mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we must remember the heroic resistance of many inmates to inspire our struggle against renewed fascism today.

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Auschwitz Memorial @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Auschwitz was at the end of a long process. It did not start from gas chambers. This hatred was gradually developed by humans. From ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder. Auschwitz took time.

A bird's-eye view of a former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp showing a wide dirt pathway flanked by parallel rows of barbed-wire fences. Groups of visitors walk along the path, surrounded by the remnants of brick structures and barracks, now reduced to foundations. Green grass contrasts with the somber history of the site, as the path leads toward a guard tower in the distance.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

To get a copy of the ebooklet make a donation to a charity supporting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and then email with proof of donation (screenshot or similiar) to ndebooklet@outlook.com. Minimum donation of £8 please. We can also send out an audio version.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

In July last year a wonderful group of people came together to create an ebooklet on neurodiversity to raise money for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since then we have raised over £2000. Now more than ever the people of Gaza need our help. To get a copy see below. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social

Front page of booklet called ways of being knowing and doing.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

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Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou @jopavlopoulou.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Join National Autism Trainer Programme’s online closing conference->real-life stories from EbEs, NHS delegates and trainers on the impact that the training has had since it was rolled out. . Free Booking: orlo.uk/CUBOY Run by Anna Freud in partnership with AT-Autism commissioned by NHS England.

orlo.uk

National Autism Trainer Programme Conference 2025

Join the online NATP Conference on 19 Feb 2025 to celebrate success, share insights, and explore autistic mental health training strategies.

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Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

So excited to find this on YouTube. @samuelsiddell.bsky.social is speaking on our parents portal this evening (autism early support) & I found this when prepping the intro. Love what is shared here. @dr-nicky.bsky.social ☺️ enjoy! youtu.be/c2w9Z7WMC0w?...

youtu.be

Ruling Passions Podcast Episode 5: Dr. Nick Walker

YouTube video by Chris J Bailey

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Dr. Alyssa (they/them) @yesthattoo.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Re: "What is AAC?", "Who is an AAC user?" vs: "Who uses AAC?" If "AAC means all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking" is true, then everyone uses AAC. But not everyone *is an AAC user* and not everyone is using *tools designed for AAC in the assistive technology sense* #AutChat

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Dr. Alyssa (they/them) @yesthattoo.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Why do we care? See the poster: Overall, speech language pathologists who provides more accurate definitions of intermittent, unreliable, and insufficient speech showed more agreement that they do or would recommend AAC to autistic students. asha2024-asha.ipostersessions.com/default.aspx... #AutRes

asha2024-asha.ipostersessions.com

asha (iPosterSessions - an aMuze! Interactive system)

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tuttleturtle @tuttleturtle.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Because it is both completely accurate to say I'm never able to effectively communicate using speech and that I *do* communicate using speech, it is really hard to describe how much I speak vs don't speak. It just is another thing in a tool kit. And not something to rely on.

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tuttleturtle @tuttleturtle.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

The ways we talk about AAC are complicated and have to be because communication is complicated. In my case I have unreliable, intermittent, insufficient, and expensive speech. The manners in which my speech is unreliable means that what comes out of my mouth sometimes communicates what I want

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