Claire O'Neill

I have been supporting the facilitation of @thrivingautistic.bsky.social's Discovery Programme this year. We have had such positive feedback about how this helps people develop a deeper understanding of their Autistic identity in a neuro-affirmative way.

Please do share x

the image shows the cover of It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Fostering Neurodivergent Thriving at School, edited by Rachael Davis, Claire O’Neill, and Sue Fletcher-Watson. Beneath it is a section introducing the chapter: Chapter: Embracing Monotropism and Flow By Fergus Murray and Helen Edgar This chapter discusses the benefits of embracing the theory of monotropism (Murray et al., 2005) and the associated phenomenon of flow for Autistic and ADHD young people in educational settings. It highlights why reframing the narrative around autism is crucial. A deeper understanding of monotropism can support the wellbeing of young people and improve educational outcomes by creating radically inclusive learning environments and fostering collaborative approaches. Available for pre-order on December 5, 2025 https://www.routledge.com/It-Takes-All-Kinds-of-Minds-Fostering-Neurodivergent-Thriving-at-School/Davis-ONeill-Fletcher-Watson/p/book/9781032796222

Sharing an upcoming publication with the chapter I co-authored with @fergus.oolong.co.uk

Embracing Monotropism and Flow

It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Fostering Neurodivergent Thriving at School
Ed. Rachael Davis @claruineill.bsky.social & @suereviews.bsky.social

www.routledge.com/It-Takes-All...

It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Fostering Neurodivergent Thriving at School It Takes All Kinds of Minds provides an inspiring and accessible introduction to neurodiversity in educational settings, informed by research and real-world experience. Drawing upon core principles th...

www.routledge.com/It-Takes-All...
#Neurodiversity #ADHD #EdChat #SystemicChange #Neurodivergent

The book focuses on school environments, practice & pedagogy & relationships. Throughout each chapter there is a shared understanding that neurodivergent voices & knowledge need to be central to how schools operate. If you're an education professional & committed to inclusion, this book is for you!

Learners deserve school systems that support all kinds of minds to flourish!

@drrachaeldavis.bsky.social, @suereviews.bsky.social and I are thrilled to share a new handbook, It Takes All Kinds of Minds we co-edited with the input of some amazing contributors.

Whoops - I knew I'd make a mistake somewhere. My posting game is very rusty! @drrachaeldavis.bsky.social and @suereviews.bsky.social

Thanks a million Laura! It was amazing to meet you in person.

Photo kindly taken by Gareth Morewood of Claire presenting talk at AEC Europe 2025. There is a blue screen at the centre of the image and it has the title of the talk displayed on it: Thriving and Meaning for Autistic Teachers: A Creative and Embodied Approach. Claire is at the bottom centre of the photo and has brown messy hair and is wearing a navy long sleeved dress. Peter V. is seated to the left of the photo and has white short hair, black glasses frames, black bow tie, white shirt and brown waistcoat.

Too little energy yet to process the experience of AEC Congress. To see so many familiar faces to turn up to my presentation and take the trouble to reach out after is truly appreciated. It’s the kindness and generosity of others that makes the post-conference exhaustion worthwhile!

long sleeved vests

💜🌟🌈 My neuro-affirming starter pack includes a collection of wonderful individuals and organizations dedicated to supporting autistic individuals and effecting positive change. Please follow and share. 💜🌟🌈

go.bsky.app/9N5UEUC

So sorry to hear this - you're in my thoughts.

Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability This nationwide cohort study with sibling control analysis examines the association of acetaminophen use during pregnancy with children’s risk of autism,

Once again: Taking Tylenol during pregnancy does NOT cause autism. Or ADHD. Research says so. Now let’s pivot more of those research dollars away from causation and into figuring out how to improve neurodivergent quality of life FFS.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... #neurodiversity

Title: Monotropism Image: Glowing person with beams of light Text reads: If you’re autistic/adhd you’re more likely to process monotropically.* Monotropism impacts every aspect of who a person is and how they interact and respond to people and the world around them. Monotropism impacts how people manage energy levels and regulate. You can’t separate monotropism from the person.

If you’re autistic/adhd you’re more likely to process monotropically. #Monotropism impacts every aspect of who a person is, how they interact &respond to people & the world around them. It impacts how people manage energy levels & regulate. Find out more:
www.autisticrealms.com/post/monotro...

Alt text: Image: rabbit popping out of rabbit hole. Title: Monotropism Text: It may feel like mono-tropic people are either, monologuing or jumping between unrelated topics. However, monotropic people are more likely to have deep tunneling thoughts. Another person may not be able to understand all the links and connections during a conversation. It might seem a bit weird and unrelated! It likely adds to a double empathy problem. Getting to know autistic people; being with them and showing curiosity in their interests is a way of understanding and connecting in a deeper more meaningful way.

If you’re autistic adhd you’re more likely to be monotropic. This may impact communication & add to the Double empathy problem.
Getting to know people, sharing interests, creating togetherness can help make sense of things & bring shared joy

Autistic professionals and the triple empathy problem. Dr Mary Doherty, founder of Autistic Doctors International, on leveraging insider perspective for community benefit.

How do the insider perspectives of autistic professionals enrich our communites? Find out on Tue, 12 March, with Mary Doherty.

#CRAEwebinar booking:
bit.ly/tripleempathy

This book launch is fabulous and will be available on YouTube. I'm looking forward to re-reading Robert's book after this illuminating talk. Highly recommended!

Also loved the call guidelines, so clear!

Hi Niamh, I've been teaching LEANS for a few cycles now, and it's transformative In the first cycle, I taught my daughter and she loved it. The characters are developed very well, and children see aspects of themselves across the characters. x

Thank you to yhe kind person who encouraged me to put together a final hour proposal for this conference. For anyone else interested, the conference was recommended as a fun, welcoming, accessible and creative space with a distinct "beyourselfness" atmosphere.

Recognizing How Autistic Children Express Love One of the most important things autistic people can offer to parents is interpretation skills, like autistic languages of love and caring.

What does an autistic child's love looks like? One of many reasons to heed autistic wisdom is that "So many parents grieve, thinking there is no love," when the problem is they don't know how to recognize autistic love. By @annmemmott.bsky.social, at TPGA.

Really delighted to be sharing this work from the LEANS project

And if you’re impressed by first author Reesha Zahir please also share her new coproduced study of sleep and mood in autistic teens.

Find out more and sign up here:
mentalhealthscot.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

#AutRes

Looking forward to. Reading. Congratulations on award!

It's a nice vague and yet "catch all" phase isn't it! To give an example, schools are expected to write IBP - Individual Behaviour Plans for children in some cases. The guidance for writing these is grounded in begaviouralism. Here, the "eclectic" approach provides a loophole which I use.

Hi Niamh, I'll look for you. In terms of a citation, the inspectorate's 2020 report is likely to have reference to the approach. May also be in the autism guidance for school doc.

In the Irish context, there are quite a number of advocates who suggest wonderful approaches based on care, relationships, belonging and authenticity. Joan Mc Donald, Marie Delaney, Sharon Lambert, Eithne Hunt to name just a few...

The Department of Education moved to an eclectic model of support in Ireland. ABA and associated approaches, nevertheless, have a strong foothold and a behaviouralist mindset is still pervasive. Many glimmers, however.

Hi Helen did and I still haven't found the headspace to add Discord to my life. Anything with a password is my kryptonite! I'll get there.

Thank you. I over think these things. Was delighted to stumble across a much valued connection from another space and was hoping just showing happiness at this is OK.

I'm glad that I've moved over here and I'm not in a space where I can spend much time immersing myself in the culture / etiquette/ hidden curriculum if that makes sense? Is it OK / appropriate to ask for top tips for blueskying? What wonders do other people have about engaging here?

I love when I find someone here that I used to be connected with elsewhere. Hope you're well.