There was a weird epilogue just now to the #LondonVirtualAutisticConference

Si (without his pigeon filter) and Ben (still a potato at first, but transmuting) appeared on-screen for a double act, making me jump!

Then Si became a giant eyeball 🙀

Way too much eye contact! 😬😂

Postscript: Andrew Carpenter closing the #LondonVirtualAutisticConference by quoting from a really powerful (and forward-thinking) speech given by Jim Sinclair in 1993 💜

(Jim was the first #ActuallyAutistic person to be invited to speak at an autism conference!)

Great end to the conference (and pleased to hear that @haringeycouncil and @NBNLondonRegion are planning another conference later in the year

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

#PDA (medically ‘pathological demand avoidance’) is better described as ‘pervasive desire for autonomy’) 😊

As a PDAer, I’ve found the discussion here really interesting

And good responses in the Q&A on #SituationalMutism

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

I do love the discussion about #SituationalMutism in Zoom calls, because I know exactly what it’s like to sometimes only be able to type words in the chat box, depending on group dynamics and how I feel at the time

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

Now at #LondonVirtualAutisticConference is a presentation on situational mutism and PDA, led by Chloe Farahar (Aucademy), joined by non-speaking or semi-speaking Si (with a pigeon filter), Ben (with a potato filter) and Libby

Graysen related their experience of seeking a referral for an autism diagnosis: their GP listened to their reasons for seeking a diagnosis, and then dismissed them at first, saying there’s no treatment for autism 😳

They want to complain but are afraid of taking up space – no one should be afraid of taking up space

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

Moving from self-ID to being ‘diagnosed’ professionally is something that both #trans people and #ActuallyAutistic people still have to do to gain access to various kinds of support

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

Fresh out of a counselling session that I’ve managed to squeeze in, I’m now back at the #LondonVirtualAutisticConference

Greysen Whittaker (he/they) is talking about his experiences as a #ActuallyAutistic #queer #trans man

I’m very interested in #ActuallyAutistic #linguistics

There’s a lot of information in Rachel Cullen’s #pragmatics talk, and it’s another one I’m definitely going to have to revisit later 🥰

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

She’s talking about our (#AllAutistics) communication system being different from that of neurotypicals, but pathologised by NT researchers as a deficit, indeed one of the diagnostic criteria for us in the DSM

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

Joining today’s #LondonVirtualAutisticConference for the last talk of the first session: Rachel Cullen on the Autistic Language Hypothesis

The title intrigues me

Andrew Carpenter just made some really good points about the language used to talk about #ActuallyAutistic people, in closing today’s proceedings at the #LondonVirtualAutisticConference

(I really wish non-Autistic researchers would listen to #AllAutistics!)

Now on to Emma Williams (Playing A/Part), talking about using creative arts as part of research with #ActuallyAutistic girls

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

Really curious to know what the breakdown of the attendees is at the #LondonVirtualAutisticConference

How many are #ActuallyAutistic?

How many are NT family members of Autists?

How many are NT clinicians, educators etc. who specialise in supporting/researching Autistic people?

Sadly, the ‘token non-autistic person’ (his words) following Dean Beadle at #LondonVirtualAutisticConference has referred to people ‘on the autism spectrum’ (and ‘people with autism’)

But he’s rightly calling out the white, middle-class, anglocentric focus of autism research

As usual, it has been a joy listening to Dean

I really want to watch his talk again to take on board some of the excellent points he made

#LondonVirtualAutisticConference

At the #LondonVirtualAutisticConference (why the long official hashtag?!)

Just popping in to two and a bit sessions today and tomorrow

Looking forward to hearing Dean Beadle again in a few minutes!

#ActuallyAutistic #AllAutistics