John Marble

I’ve witnessed far more death and violence than most I know.

Empathy,
Empathy,
Empathy,
Empathy is the only truly effective strategy to combat ideas with which we don’t agree.

Strangers come together to deliver Salt Lake City couple’s baby girl at Burning Man A Salt Lake City woman gave birth to a baby girl at the Burning Man festival in Nevada on Wednesday, without knowing beforehand that she was pregnant.

At breakfast one morning, we heard someone yell for a doctor. Several of our campmates leapt up and rushed to the camp across the street, where they helped deliver a healthy baby girl.

Autistic people are people—and deserve to be treated like any other story subject, not just as color commentary on how hard we make life for others.

How is the fact that the subject’s brother is autistic relevant to the story—especially since he is not one of the people Mr. McDougall “tends to,” as mentioned in the first paragraph?

A7: A lack of plain-language translation of research studies and effective community engagement.

Even researchers studying genetics and biology can find a benefit in being able to explain how their work connects to improving the real-world experiences of autistic people and their families.

A5: Trauma #AutINSAR #INSAR2025

A3: I’ve seen research at #INSAR2025 moving in a generally positive direction. But I’m concerned about how some are using funding pressures and INSAR board influence to push incredibly outdated ideas, including the adoption of the term “profound autism,”. #AutINSAR

A2: Research into HOW autistic people think (thinking patterns, learning patterns, etc.). I haven’t seen much of that presented at #INSAR2025. #AutINSAR

*effectiveness of AUTISM research (not autistic research)

A1: I would like to see research into the effectiveness of autistic research (research bias, funding pressures, level of participatory research in studies, etc.)

At #INSAR2025, Drexel University is presenting research on how to effectively adapt cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for autistic youth.

The research team is neurodiverse—including autistic researchers—and it shows in the outstanding quality of their study design.

🙌♾️🔬

Appreciated the research presented this morning at #INSAR2025 (by Drexel University/Michigan State University) on training mental health providers to recognize and reduce the barriers THEY THEMSELVES may create when working with disabled and autistic communities.

a man in a black and white sweater is holding his hands to his chest . Alt: The character David from “Schitt’s Creek” shown in a black and white sweater and holding his hands to his chest while saying “I don’t want any of that”.

Also, on this same panel Singer lamented “our [autistic] children who have lived in darkness for far too long”.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there’s any inherent biological/genetic factor that prevents a person from attending #INSAR2025. Did I miss a poster on that?!

Maybe instead of blaming the autistic person we should be examining what WE ARE DOING to prevent their participation.

I believe there’s a deeper story. I’ve started mapping out the funding sources of the SIGs, posters, and keynotes at #INSAR2025 specifically promoting the term (or using “copy and paste” language about the Lancet in their descriptions) and encourage others to do the same.

A bakery wrapper which reads “Pinoyshki”.

Seattle has a Filipino-Slavic bakery and it is delicious. 🇵🇭🇺🇦

They did announce this morning that #INSAR2027 will be held in South Africa. So, maybe that was on my mind. 🤷‍♂️

*”and I tend to…” I meant.

Well, it IS a year…just not the year I meant! #2017

I have dyscalculia, and intend to transpose numbers. At #INSAR2025 this means that I have now three times shown up for sessions AFTER THEY CONCLUDED thinking I was early. 😂

And I’m hoping to find quality research on nonspeaking autistics and those with complex needs.

(Today was just rushed and I only got to hear a small selection of poster presenters).

I haven’t had a chance to check out any genetic/biological posters yet, but there seems to be a shift among younger researchers to study autistic people as people, rather than something utterly bizarre and unknown.

That’s a good thing.

My last INSAR (2027) it seemed most of the research posters were in the lane of “OMG, what’s wrong with these people and how can we fix them?”

Tremendously encouraged by the wide range of the research posters I viewed today at #INSAR2025.

Just a few: Research on autistic pregnancy, menopause, masking, autistic-led training for educators, the impact of autistic-friendly initiatives in Australian airports…lots more.

I’m encouraged that she admitted that her view is in the minority.

Singer’s repeated praise for RFK, Jr. and her statement that the Trump Administration is the first “in 20 years” to focus on nonspeaking autistic people and those with complex needs should raise alarms.

I am all for this session! Of course, I walked in 45 minutes late thinking I was 15 minutes early. Not blaming my #dyscalculia… 😂 #INSAR2025

A screenshot of a tweet by the DNC calling on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to resign followed by his response to the DNC saying that their “agenda” is illegals, trans, and DEI.

But your agenda is on Signal. 🤷‍♂️

His ignorance of the science is one thing. But the revulsion, fear, and contempt that Secretary Kennedy showed autistic and disabled people on Wednesday was grotesque. He—and the country—would be better off if he unpacked those feelings in therapy, not at a press conference.

Less than two days later, I’m sad to say that this piece is already outdated. The amount of damage that Secretary Kennedy is inflicting on autistic people and families is abhorrent.

Attn: @ericmgarcia.bsky.social