Mary McCool

Autistic girls much less likely to be diagnosed, study says By age 20 diagnosis rates for men and women almost equal, research finds, challenging assumptions of gender discrepancy

On this study, a patient advocate wrote that "while the onset of symptoms could be delayed and masking was undoubtedly a factor, the methods and tools to diagnose autism might be biased and need refining".
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Bulldozers to move in on 'Scotland's Chenobyl' in Port Glasgow A first phase of demolition is about to start on the derelict Clune Park estate in Port Glasgow

This is a great piece of photojournalism by Calum Watson and Morgan Spence. Parts of Port Glasgow (and Inverclyde generally) are quite beautiful still, but the decay - in this case exacerbated by a standoff between landlords and the council - is unreal.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Better awareness of neurodiversity has led to more people seeking a diagnosis later in life. But the reaction from GPs is quite telling - they seem to want to manage people's expectations and have stressed that criteria for referrals is very strict.

'I realised I had autism when my children were diagnosed' William Butchart's son was two when he was diagnosed with the condition and his daughter was 13.

William says an autism diagnosis helped him understand his world - that's wonderful. But there's a lot we don't know about adult diagnosis in Scotland - the scale of demand for one. And what do people then do with the information when there's no treatment?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

BBC 100 Women 2024: Who is on the list this year? - BBC News BBC reveals the 2024 100 Women list. Here are the most inspiring and influential women for 2024 from around the world selected by the BBC.

Ah, a wonderful tonic♡

www.bbc.co.uk/news/resourc...

I see Gregg Wallace has apologgised aggain.

Gregg Wallace accusers criticise his response to allegations The TV presenter earlier branded his accusers a

This line really nails a common manipulation tactic that I'm sure a lot of women will recognise.

"His humour isn't typically working-class or prone to misinterpretation: from my perspective, its main purpose is to test boundaries..."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Definitely read this thread on the assisted dying debate

CCTV shows pupils abused and locked in padded room Police have said staff will not face action over abuse of autistic children shown in videos leaked to the BBC.

I have a number of loved ones who are autistic/neurodivergent. Everyday things can be incredibly distressing, it can't be helped.
This sort of treatment is profoundly inhumane.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Chapters include:
- an almost unbuildable ship
- questionable procurement
- building without approved drawings
- a Wyatt Earp standoff
- a director paid nearly £2m for 595 days’ work
- a launch and a sacking

Why was Glen Sannox so hard to build? The new CalMac vessel at the centre of Scotland's ferries saga has finally been delivered by Ferguson shipyard

My colleague Calum Watson has been an unstoppable force of journalism on Scotland's ferry saga. The story looks to be coming to a close - here he lays it out from the beginning, and it reads like a soap opera:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

WORTH THE WAIT

Day 1 of BlueSky and this is the best thing I've seen so far.

Instantly helpful

Gynaecology has one of the worst waiting lists across the UK. One woman told the BBC she felt the delay in her care cost her some of her major organs.

Gynaecology waiting lists in UK double, leaving women in pain Around 630,000 women are waiting for gynaecology appointments as waiting lists double in four years.

I reckon most women know or feel this to some degree - what even leading doctors call a persistent lack of priority given to women's health. Here it is in black and white.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Realising I've spent 11 years of my life persuading less than 2k people to follow me on Twitter/X and now wondering what it was all for.

Anyway this seems fun...