Black Autistics

QUAHRC Seminar: Rethinking Power in Autism Research Rethinking Power in Autism Research: Intersectional, Participatory, and Afrocentric Futures?

Rethinking power in #AutismResearch: Intersectional, Participatory, & Afrocentric Futures?

Book our January seminar with @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Dr Olivia Matshabane, facilitated by Dr Sohail Jannesari.

@kingsioppn.bsky.social @journalautism.bsky.social

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quahrc-sem...

Feel honoured to be mentioned. Thank you!

Ironically, I began my course feeling the least confident about writing a methodology chapter, but now feel this chapter offers the strongest reflection of my academic growth - partly due to my shift to engaging with post-qualitative inquiry.

The entire research process has been informed by my subjectivity as a Black autistic academic. I initially thought I would take a qualitative approach to my study but found Eurocentric knowledge practices incongruent with my aims to humanise black autistic ways of knowing, relating and being

My dissertation forms part of a primary approach to research that engages directly with Black British autistic participants to elucidate the role of cultural strengths in supporting the development of resilience and resistance to intersecting sources of adversity.

I've learned how to write different types of assignments during my
MA course - Literature Reviews, Essays, Reports, Critical Analyses, Reflective Pieces alongside a Dissertation. The latter has been the most enjoyable, yet challenging in equal measure

A 10 year break from education ensued until I was permitted entry to postgraduate study on the basis of my autistic lived experience. I've always found academic writing challenging and throughout my MA have had to learn writing skills I would've ordinarily covered during a Bachelors degree.

I only had GCSE's prior to starting my masters. I was unable to complete my A Levels due to the strain of navigating mainstream further education without a diagnosis or support

Rejection Sensitivity, Elopement, and Suicide- How They Are Connected - SEMA.Scot This week has been Suicide Prevention Week. It’s not the awareness of suicides happening around that we need. It’s the causes and what we can do to stem them. It […]

🧠 Read the full piece on
Rejection Sensitivity, Elopement and Suicide – How They Are Connected here:

👉 sema.scot/rejection-sensitivity-elopement-and-suicide-how-they-are-connected/

Graphic for World Suicide Prevention Month by Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA). The top features the SEMA logo. Below, bold text reads 'WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.' In the center is a social media post by Pat Radical Therapist that says: 'Suicide Awareness that ignores poverty, prisons, racism, ableism, transphobia & systemic oppression isn’t complete awareness. People don’t just die ONLY because of mental illness. They die because systems make life unbearable.' The post shows 6.4k likes, 59 comments, and 1.3k shares. At the bottom, there is the National Suicide Prevention Month logo with a teal and purple ribbon.

“They’ll be fine.”
But what if they’re not?

Some of the most misunderstood experiences for Autistic people, especially racialised Autistics, are rejection sensitivity, elopement, and suicidality.

These are often dismissed or mislabelled as misbehaviour, defiance, or attention-seeking.

Absolutely! 👍🏾

YouTube video by Al Jazeera English Sylvia Wynter: Beyond man | DigiDocs

Black Autistics is looking for a freelance artist to produce a motion illustrated 8min digital documentary (See Al Jazeera’s Sylvia Wynter doc for reference).
Please comment names of recommended artists & repost to boost reach.
youtu.be/WufVxu6EYao?...

Black Autistics is now on Instagram! This will be a place for sharing audio/visual content on Black autistic lived experiences, reflections on neuro-racial affirming theory, policy and practice as well as updates on our research publications.
Instagram.com/blackautistics

Whilst the work of Anna Freud and @at-autism.bsky.social on the NATP has now ended, people can still read here about this groundbreaking co-designed, co-developed, co-delivered programme, including impact case studies:
www.annafreud.org/training/hea...

It was great to be able to spotlight the @england.nhs.uk National Autism Trainer program on Richie Brave’s 1Xtra Live Talks for #AutismAwarenessWeek as a stellar example of facilitating institutional engagement with Autism + Race. @jopavlopoulou.bsky.social @drruthmoyse.bsky.social

I’m honoured to be joining @richiebrave.bsky.social on @bbcradio1xtrabot.bsky.social live this Sunday 6 April at 9pm to discuss all things Blackness and Autism.

Will you be tuning in? 😃

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Happy Autism Awareness Day! I’ll be speaking on decolonising Autism and embracing intersectional perspectives at the Restorying Autism online knowledge exchange tonight 5pm ET / 10 UK Time.

Register here for Zoom link queensu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Hiya thank you for offering to help. I managed to find it in my university E-Library so no worries 😌

A huge thank you to all of our wonderful speakers and everyone who joined the National Autism Trainer Programme Conference. It was wonderful to take time to reflect on the impact of this incredible programme, which was commissioned by NHS England and developed +delivered by Anna Freud and AT-Autism.

Olivia Brown, @blackautistics.bsky.social, was a much valued member of our team of NATP Trainer facilitators, as well as continuing with her role as a NATP Expert by Experience.
#NATPMentalHealth

It was an honour to present at today’s NATP celebration conference. I truly hope this work can continue and extend to more settings.

I’m becoming increasingly interested in exploring Racial Health Inequalities in Autistic people. Does anyone know if NHS England or The Race and Health Observatory are pursuing work in this area?

Dissertation Writing Mode

♥️

Really honoured to be apart of Autistica’s consultation of autistic voices to inform the NHS 10 year plan. I’m not sure how many others will be championing intersectionality-informed approaches to data collection & preventative community-based mental health care, but I hope it starts a conversation.

It’s been an absolute pleasure working as a trainer on this programme. If you are interested in autism and mental health, consider joining the National Autism Trainer Programme’s free virtual conference on February 19th 2025 12:30-15:30
www.annafreud.org/training/cou...

Teenager fatally stabbed schoolgirl Elianne Andam in neck in row over teddy bear, court hears The prosecutor in the trial at the Old Bailey said Hassan Sentamu had pleaded not guilty to murder on the basis that his responsibility was diminished having previously been diagnosed with autism.

news.sky.com/story/amp/te...

A Black autistic defendant in the murder trial of South London schoolgirl Elianne Andam is arguing diminished responsibility for stabbing the victim on account of his “Autistic rage.” It’s generating a lot of thought about emotional regulation, rejection sensitive dysphoria and violence as meltdown.

The Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research includes Caribbean public health crises as a key area of investigation. I wonder if they’d be open to consider slavery as a social and genetic determinant of neurodevelopmental conditions?