iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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

Milton: Autistic 10 year olds experiencing mutual incomprehension: "95% of people don't understand me, adults won't stop bullying me," etc. The breakdown between autistic and non-autistic is due not only the autistic person, but differing perspectives in trying to understand each other. #INSAR2026

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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

"It is important to remember that the DEP emerged from lived experience and social theory" - Milton. Damian reflects on alienation in autistic people & the impact of this on autistic sense of self, the role of stigma. Damian calls for collaboration & participation to avoid tokenism. #INSAR2026

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

Milton: To combat double empathy problem fallout for autistics, we need collaboration. Autistic people themselves need to be setting the agenda, and we need more cooperative efforts like the Participatory Autism Research Collective he helped found. #INSAR2026

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Steven Kapp @drstevenkapp.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Fortunate to have suggested Damian Milton to keynote at #INSAR2026 about the double empathy problem. For 1st time he considered application to animal models (critiquing it) & also included the relevance to autistic people w/ severe intellectual impairment like his son (critiquing “profound autism”).

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

CN: Suicide, self-harm TGD autistics are more likely to be suicidal and self harm. They are 12x more likely to have a suicide plan. Gender discrimination vs. gender affirming care also are significant factors. #INSAR2026

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

CN: Suicide, self-harm Take homes: transgender and gender diverse autistics compared to cis autistics are morel likely to have anxiety, suicidality or self-harm, and a suicide plan. Gender affirming & neuro-affirming health care is CRUCIAL. This requires staff training. #INSAR2026

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Brian Irvine @brianirvine.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

The autistic folk with a learning disability that I’ve met and known over the last 20 years do not deserve to have such an unthought through label thrust upon them. They are not cut off from joy or love. And that’s why the neurodiversity movement rocks; it speaks of difference not despair.

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Brian Irvine @brianirvine.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

So, I don’t like the language of ‘profound autism’ because calling something ‘place of despair autism’ sucks.

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Brian Irvine @brianirvine.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Another INSAR, another year for me to be grumpy about the term ‘profound autism’; this time not because of the corrosion of solidarity - and the potential social justice missed - that can come from splitting off a ‘type of autism’. That’s huge, don’t get me wrong.

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

CN: Police killing Alex LaMorie, an autistic man, called the police for help. Instead, they shot him. At least two of the three officers who shot Alex went through autism training. It was not enough to stop them from killing him. By @autisticadvocacy.org: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/04/auti...

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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

To people attending #INSAR2026: I will be attending and presenting a poster on the Autistic Advisory Panel and the process of establishing it. Happy to meet to chat about the Panel, my work and all things research. I am also co-organising the Autistic Researchers meet-up with INSAR's ARC.

Sign in an app for a presentation:
POSTER ID 416.168
(54C) Amplifying Autistic Voice through Inclusive Governance: Establishing and Co-Creating an Autistic Advisory Panel at Scottish Autism

Poster
Aimee Fletcher Participation Coordinator (Alloa, United Kingdom),
Susan O'Reilly Practice Development Manager (Alloa, United Kingdom),
Joseph Long Director of Practice and Innovation (Alloa, United Kingdom)
Congress Hall Foyer B, C - Level 3
Friday, 24 Apr, 12:30 - 13:30 CEST

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Centre for Interaction, Development and Diversity @uopcidd.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

@uopcidd.bsky.social Director Prof Beatriz López presented meta-analysis w/ ~30k participants: higher variability in autistic ppl for theory of mind & flexibility executive functioning tasks than central coherence or planning EF task. Variability was *not* higher over time #INSAR2026 #neurodiversity

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John Marble @johnmarble.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

David Mandell is presenting at #INSAR2026 about the effects of U.S: autism insurance mandates on services delivered. I’m curious about the breakdown of how insurance mandates have increased ABA services, occupational therapy, and speech therapy as separate categories. Not all services are the same.

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

Sterrett: The groupings were based on standardized measures, basically low IQ and low adaptive skills (again, these are not autism-specific traits. These are co-occurring disability traits). #INSAR2026 #profoundAutism

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

Case: Sandy, 40 yrs old. She was bullied from a young age, and so retreated into herself, did not want to be burden. She would "shut up" and not overwhelm people with the things she wanted to say. She experienced worsening bone density without any explanation, blamed for her diet. #INSAR2026

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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

"Autistic professionals are your colleagues" Hannah explains that there are high numbers of autistic people working across different professional fields. AADC brings together autistic clinicians, researchers & allies internationally who can diagnose professionally. Over 200 members #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 12/04/2026

With #INSAR2026 coming up, a reminder that autistic and neurodiversity advocates are NOT against research, if it improves autistic quality of life—in fact, we want more of that! Especially for chronic pain & GI issues that can present differently in autistics: www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/cli...

thetransmitter.org

Clinicians must put more effort into autism-specific medical care

Without it, autistic adults with high support needs like my son are missing out on treatments that could reduce their suffering and improve their quality of life.

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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

My two pence having attended INSAR in 2024, 2025 and 2026 is that I have felt that there has been more of a "science", "genetics", & "sub-type" focus in main stage presentations than the more interdisciplinary, intersectionality participatory & autistic-led research (more poster & SIG). #INSAR2026

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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

I recognise that INSAR has traditionally been more "science", but I find it incredibly limiting to treat other disciplines as being "less than" or to suggest that scientists are 'scared' to come and present at INSAR. We need interdisciplinary representation & more practice-based & ND-led research.

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Dr Aimée Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Human rights is a theme recurring, particularly the importance of having conversations particularly during politically challenging times in order to protect and promote rights. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

CN: Suicide For those who self-identified as being in recovery, helpful items include: Optimizing identity, understanding oneself, rediscovering meaning. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

You would be correct. I have all the anecdotes. -SR #INSAR2026

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John Marble @johnmarble.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

My hunch (I haven’t yet seen research in this regard) is that the ABA industry’s focus on profit maximization may mean that insurance mandates could very well be degrading the quality of services provided to autistic individuals. #INSAR2026

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John Marble @johnmarble.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

I’m begging conferences to provide printed programs and clear signage onsite and not just rely on apps. I honestly cannot cognitively follow the schedule in the #INSAR2026 app, nor figure out where to go, nor tell what is a session, poster presentation, or something else.

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

Now: Laura Lewis, from University of Vermont, presenting on the experiences of autistic adults with complex health needs. Note: This discussion will include discussions of health and sexual trauma. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

Results: Autistic patients often came out with poorer health than they arrived with. Often were made to doubt their own bodies and experiences, from an early age. Even when they didn't, they had barriers such as communication. And THEN would get dismissed by practitioners' prejudices. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

We know that health care providers usually have good intentions, but that doesn't mean they are not causing harm for their autistic patients. Most of the participants were female/AFAB, and poor. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

CN: Suicide Protective factors for suicidality in autistic youth include: Neuro-affirming identity, critical awareness, autonomy. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

CN: Suicide Bullying can be overwhelming, even when not active, it can lead to negative and intrusive thoughts that they can't shut off. Resolution can include things like leaving school, enabling more autonomy with purposeful coping. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

CN: Suicide Another sub-theme is "existential disconnection" vs. purposeful hyperfocus. For example: If a search for meaning couldn't be resolved, purposeful rumination can help. #INSAR2026

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 23/04/2026

#INSAR2026 -relevant: "Autism research is a revolving door which Autistic people virtually never get to enter and allistics virtually never bother to exit." Autistic AAC user Xavier Penn discusses attending autism conferences, and Tokenism in Autism Research: thinkingautismguide.com/2026/03/the-...

thinkingautismguide.com

The State of the Science: On Tokenism in Autism Research — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM

Autism research is a revolving door which Autistic people virtually never get to enter and allistics virtually never bother to exit.

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Dr. Elliot Gavin Keenan (Elie) @honeydewhaiku.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Sup? My name's Elie. I have PhD in Psych & I'm a postdoc. I'm new to Bluesky and need to follow. Things I'm into: #neurodivergent/ #MentallyIll / #MadStudies content that is not constructed purely through an anti-psychiatry lens; lived experience research (I'm #AuDHD + #Bipolar); anything #Pokémon

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Dr. Elliot Gavin Keenan (Elie) @honeydewhaiku.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

I wrote this book (it's available on Amazon), and check out this interview I did with Thinking Person's Guide to Autism!

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

The House Ag Committee released its breakdown of the spending cuts made under the reconciliation bill (h/t @jamiedupree.bsky.social). It puts work requirements on able-bodied adults between 19 and 64. Reducdes the federal share of administering SNAP from 50% to 25% docs.house.gov/meetings/AG/...

docs.house.gov

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Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Coolest couple in the neighborhood. Photo from my collection, 1937.

Black and white photo of a young light skinned black woman in a dark beret and turtleneck sweater, sitting outside of the brick steps of a wooden house porch. Next to her is a shorthaired white cat looking very curiously into the distance, but the cat is restrained by the woman’s hand and also a harness if it should decide to run off and investigate.

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

The Ag Committee's part of the Reconciliation Bill raises the SNAP work requirement age for able-bodied adults without dependents from 54 to 64. It also changes the definition of "dependent child" from under 18 years to under 7 years old to determine "Able-bodied adult without dependents."

Sec. 10002. Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents Work Requirements.
Subsection (a) of section 10002 amends the exceptions listed for able bodied adults without
dependents (ABAWD) in Section 6(o)(3) of the Food and Nutrition Act to the SNAP work
requirement. Specifically, this section would increase the age with which ABAWDs must
continue working to qualify for SNAP to 64 (up from 54 currently); it changes the generic,
functional definition of “dependent child” for ABAWD purposes from under 18 years of age to
under 7; and it carves out an exception to the work requirements for a person responsible for a
child 7 years of age or older who is married and resides with an individual who complies with
the SNAP work requirements

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Dr Aimee Grant @draimeegrant.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

My #INSAR2025 talk - expertly tweeted by @thinkingautism.com & @aimeespeaks.bsky.social - is now available to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n4c... Focus: How I share power with lay Autistic people - including those with learning disabilities and who are non-speaking - and what they think of it /1

youtube.com

Aimee Grant INSAR high support needs presentation - April 2025

YouTube video by Autism from menstruation to menopause

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Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Everyone in the past was neurotypical, which is how we got things like this single-author, eight-volume encyclopedia of ferns

eight leatherbound books all titled "FERNS" volumes 1 through 8

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Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) @autisticadvocacy.org · 06/05/2025

Check out Lavender’s Nonspeaker Library — it is a collection of posts, writing, art, poetry, researcher, and more by and about nonspeaking people and people with communication disabilities. www.tumblr.com/nonspeakerli...

tumblr.com

@nonspeakerlibrary · Lavender’s Nonspeaker Library

Welcome! This is my collection of posts, writing, art, poetry, research and everything else by and about nonspeaking people, and others with communication disabilities. Because our work and our lives…

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Cats of Yore @catsofyore.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Writing on the back of this photo from my collection says “General Nuisance. Summer 1954”.

Photo of a longhaired tortie cat lying on a sunny sidewalk with grass lawn on either side. It has a round little dark object in front of it, a toy maybe.

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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

I honestly don’t eat a lot of seafood, but I *love* looking at the art on tinned seafood.

A squid is doodled in a very fun blocky graphic designy way and the words read “stuffed squid Portuguese style Lula recheadas a Portuguese”

A googley eyed squid with comically large popping out eyes on a red squid with darker red speckles on a can. It says “spiced calamari in ragout sauce”

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Monique Botha @drmbothapsych.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

It's no coincidence that someone who argues that autistic people lack epistemic authority feels the need to warn about this too.

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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

The goal of this project is to put that important and actionable information in a cute-as-hell delivery system, so people feel excited and empowered to take those first steps. We don’t drown them in details, just give them an action plan, emphasizing that doing anything is better than nothing.

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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

The zine gives an overview of ACTIONS people can take to support biodiversity here in Philly. It includes information specific to the region, from plant species to city stormwater management programs. It can be overwhelming to know you’re supposed to do SOMETHING but not know where to start.

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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

This project is ~$2k over budget, bc... well, I paid artists & printed 3000 copies. "MY BAD" (not bad, good actually). I've distributed ~10% of the zines. I want to have a broader footprint in the city! Want to help get zines to more neighborhoods? 🫣 Donate here: givebutter.com/phillybiodiv...

givebutter.com

Philly Biodiversity Zine

Philly biodiversity zine educational zine

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Carol Greenburg @autisticenough.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

One important avenue for discussing autistic people’s autonomy in depth is exploring the Supported Decision Making Movement. Autistic Self Advocacy Network offers some helpful material on this subject, including some material in an Easy Reading format.

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/05/2025

Blasko: We talked for a long time about the barriers to inclusion for autistics with HSNs. Researchers need to develop the skills to do it. We need less gatekeeping, and to dismantle that power imbalance. Researchers needs to provide better access. I hope we are patient with each other. #INSAR2025

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/05/2025

Blasko and Jaswal: Why is this panel happening? Well, some people here don't understand how autistic with HSNs can participate, and don't understand the #neurodiversity paradigm. Previous panelists talked about how to include autistic people with HSNs successfully in research. #INSAR2025

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 03/05/2025

Sutherland: Sometimes communication difficulties were due to staff's normative assumptions about communication. So if someone could speak a bit they assumed they should be able to speak more, instead of trying to use AAC or other communication methods. #INSAR2025

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