Thanks for having me @scdtp.bsky.social

Reflections on the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership Retreat This week, I attended the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership residential at Cumberland Lodge, focusing on social division. The event included ice-breaking activities, nature-based resilience sessions, creative badge-making, and karaoke in remembrance of a late friend. Overall, it revitalised my energy for my PhD and social interactions.

Earlier this week, I was blessed to attend the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership residential in Cumberland Lodge. This blog shares images from the residential, along with my thoughts, feelings, and silly scribbles. #SCDTP2026CL

Thin wooden shelves filled with colourful zines

Cervical Screening for Trans+ Autistic People: A Tool for Self-Advocacy has made it's way to the Peak District Zine Library.

It's lovely to see our zine in the wild @georgiarivers.bsky.social

We are looking for other places to house our zine, so let us know!

autisticltd.co.uk/2025/06/13/c...

I can't believe the second annual symposium is nearly here.

I presented last year and it was a total delight.

A short Q&A for Autism Acceptance Month I was asked these questions as part of a bigger project and thought I would share here too. How has being diagnosed as autistic impacted on your life? Being formally diagnosed has allowed me to und…

I did an interview for Papyrus for #AutismAcceptance month a few years back and they asked me: How has being diagnosed as autistic impacted on your life?

Read more of mine, and others answers to their questions here:

autisticltd.co.uk/2023/04/01/a...

I'm dipping my toe into #MadStudies with a particular interest in talking therapies for those with anxiety and depression, and OCD.

Any recommendations of papers/authors/books to read?

[Picture of a gorgeous old tree because why not?]

We finish by sharing information from our (very nearly published) soultions paper.

The session is simply titled: Neurodiversity in Cancer Care

Exploring the experiences of cancer services for neurodivergent and disabled people.

What was shared through cmmunity-based creative workshops.

How practitioners can improve accessibility and belonging for neurodivergent and disabled people in cancer services.

I am excited to present at the Association for Cancer Physicians conference this weekend.

Rosie Tansley and I are talking on research we have done in our (disabled) community over the past three years:

www.theacp.org.uk/calendar1/co...

A large round badge, attached to a black floral bag. The badge is collage based, with a white floral background, a shoe print to the right and words reading: stop selling your body and start selling sex

I had a very energising first day of the @scdtp.bsky.social Cumberland Lodge residential.

Creating webs of connections, spending reflective time out in nature. Talking well-being.

I also got to make this beaut with the Badge Cafe before dinner and a sing-along.

Perfection.

#SCDTP2026CL

A white take away coffee cup sits atop my black wheelie bag on a grey and blue train carriage.

On my way to @scdtp.bsky.social Cumberland Lodge residential.

Coffee for a cold morning before seeing everyone, meeting some of the new cohort, and reflecting on research practice and well-being.

And karaoke, of course.

Pink and blue speech bubbles. Black text underneath reads: What assumptions do you wish people would stop making about Autistic people?

During an interview for #AutismAcceptance month, Chay from @transactualuk.bsky.social asked me: What assumptions do you wish people would stop making about Autistic people?

Find our conversation in text and video here:

autisticltd.co.uk/2024/04/12/i...

😏🤯😵🥹 [mixed feelings]

😆 as if I wasn't marginalised enough!

They do, its been a while and I didn't want to get blood over your paper 😅

Yes! That a diagnosis is *easy* to get and that we then get all this ✨️magical stuff✨️ it's a joke all the way round

I think there is a common misconception that when people are diagnosed as Autistic or otherwise neurodivergent and/or disabled that we automatically get support.

Not even close.

autisticltd.co.uk/2025/02/23/c...

Good luck and thank you to all those pr*testing across the UK this weekend for trans rights.

A little list that may be helpful:
autisticltd.co.uk/2024/06/01/c...

Stay together.
Wear plain clothes.
Don't talk to p*lice.

A giant colouring book (borrowed from my son) shows a page with a flying Iron Man. I have coloured him in rainbow colours in pencils and pens

When in doubt, colour billionaires in queer colours. 🌈

My right ring finger with a blue Humpty dumpty plaster around the top. Applied with love

Getting ready for the @scdtp.bsky.social Queer Methodologies retreat, I was too emersed reading @notrightruth.bsky.social 's A Methodology for the Marginalised that I got a paper cut. Thank goodness Little Man was there with a plaster and a kiss

Supporting Neurodivergent Lives: Embracing Complexity Human beings are complex. We’re constantly changing, adapting, and responding to our environments emotionally, mentally, and physically. For neurodivergent people, this complexity is often heighten…

So much general information flattens Autistic experiences suggesting that we all live the same way, look the same and want and need the same things, and this couldn't be further from the truth. If youve meet one Autistic person...
#AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance
autisticltd.co.uk/2025/10/31/s...

Supporting Autistic people meaningfully means letting go of stereotypes, prejudice and bias. Taking the person as we see them and not relying on information that may be irrelevant to them.

The importance of Autistic-led training and research The struggle for Autistic trainers is common as non-Autistic individuals often take precedence. Organizations claim to support #AutismAwareness but refuse to pay Autistic individuals for their expe…

There is something more empathetic and knowledgeable lived experience research and teaching.

It can look different to typical ways of sharing space and knowledge. Who is involved, and who holds any 'power' in the room.

#AutismAcceptance #AutismAwareness

autisticltd.co.uk/2024/04/16/t...

Ooooh yes any help there would be fab :)

Last week we shared this archival flag in all it's glory at a celebration event in Southampton.

The flag now needs some places to visit across the Wessex Region and beyond.

Any ideas?

Across workshops and Pride events, we invited trans+ people, allies, and family members to express their experiences by creating personalised fabric squares. Over 90 were created to be sewn into a 3m x 6m trans pride flag — a living archive of community stories.

Trans Aware Cancer Care began with the simple aim to understand what it feels like for trans+ people to access cancer services. What we uncovered became a powerful reminder that healthcare systems, no matter how well-meaning, can still push people away. 🌈🎓

I wish I could zoom in on every square. To share with you all the stories that have been shared with us. 🌈🎓

involvingpeople.org/project/tacc/

@theatreforlife.bsky.social @beyondreflectuk.bsky.social

Trans+ Creative Workshops: Reflections and Poems I share my experiences of the National Lottery-Funded Trans-Generation-All creative workshops. Including poetry, artwork and what is happening next...

Trans+ Creative Workshops: Reflections and Poems

I share my experiences of the National Lottery-Funded Trans-Generation-All creative workshops. Including poetry, artwork and what is happening next...