Aut_Scot

Seen on BBC wewb site "'Playing an autistic character helped me unmask myself' Comedian Ashley Storrie has revealed playing an autistic character in her first lead acting role helped her to become more open about her own challenges. Ashley plays Nina a neurodiverse palaeontologist in Dinosaur, a comedy drama set to air on BBC Scotland on 14 April. The six-part series follows Nina and her family in the lead up to her sister Evie’s impromptu wedding. Ashley, who has autism, said the role enabled her to “unmask” in real life. ... ": https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c19xxxjgy4ro You can watch Dinosaur on the BBC Scotland Channel on 14 April at 22:30 or on BBC Three on 16 April at 22:30. Programme web site: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ybcl

Some Autism and neurodiversity petitions currently open on the UK Government website: "Increase funding to reduce the waiting times for Autism Diagnoses" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/655479 "Ensure that benefit assessors are trained in autism" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/656656 "Review police training around personality disorders, autism and adhd" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/656351 "Fund more services to support adults with autism and mental health issues" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/649257 "Provide dedicated funding for community residential services for Autistic people" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/648053 "Require all school and college staff to attend Neurodiversity training" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/656407 "Provide Funding for Neurodiversity Diagnostic Assessments in State Schools" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/652118

A recent publication from the The National Autistic Taskforce, titled "Recognising Behaviour as Distress in Practice – a discussion paper": https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/resources/documents/Developing-your-workforce/Care-topics/Supporting-people-with-challenging-or-distressed/NAT-and-SfC-Recognising-Behaviour-as-Distress-in-Practice-discussion-paper.pdf

Seen on the "Scottish Autism" website an article about an app called "AutNav": "Scottish Autism in partnership with the National Autistic Taskforce are delighted to showcase our new AutNav app, specifically created for autistic people. The app has been developed in line with the vision of the late Dr Dinah Murray, who was passionate about supporting the rights of autistic people with profound communication difficulties, often supported in long-term residential care, and saw AutNav as a method to enable people to communicate their interests, and interact with friends and wider family. ... ". Link: https://www.scottishautism.org/services-support/autnav

Article seen online; "Reading and being Autistic As part of our series on reading identity, PhD researcher Charlotte Webber shares her insights and experiences of reading as an Autistic person. ... ": https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/articles/reading-and-being-autistic

Seen on the BBC website - "Caragh McMurtry: Great Britain rower's neurodiversity journey ... By changing the environment around her, rather than her own brain chemistry, McMurtry found the freedom to exist and perform unhindered. Together with the panel, she drew up a three-point plan. The team nutritionist was asked to provide McMurtry with bland food, as highly flavoured or spiced options were overwhelming. The coaches were asked to avoid asking her open-ended questions in the morning and to provide a sum-up at the end of team briefings to ensure they had been understood. ... ": https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rowing/68554234

Article on BBC web site titled "Autistic people held back by job interview questions - report Ambiguous interview questions and application forms are keeping autistic people out of work, a report has found. While 53.6% of all disabled people are in work, only 30% of autistic people are, the latest official figures show. One autistic person told BBC News having more tick-boxes in applications might help him to land an interview. The government has urged employers to "get behind" all recommendations set out in Sir Robert Buckland's report on autism in the workplace. ... " https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68381352 Link to Sir Robert Buckland's report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-buckland-review-of-autism-employment-report-and-recommendations/the-buckland-review-of-autism-employment-report-and-recommendations

Some Autism news stories from the BBC web site: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cwlw3xz045jt

The film "Meet You in Scotland" gets mixed reviews here: https://letterboxd.com/film/meet-you-in-scotland/ If it is on at the cinema, I'll maybe go and see it. Is the Edinburgh Filmhouse cinema still operating?

There is a radio series by neurodiverse comedian Ashley Storrie called "What's the Story, Ashley Storrie?" it is on Radio 4 on Wednesday at 23:00 hrs on Radio 4, for more information see the link below: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001vtn5

Thank you and a happy, healthy, prosperous and successfull New Year to you and all other users of this forum.

Two online articles on the use of artificial intelligence to help diagnose autism: "A Hidden Pattern in Children's Eyes Can Reveal if They Have Autism": https://www.sciencealert.com/a-hidden-pattern-in-childrens-eyes-can-reveal-if-they-have-autism "Can Artificial Intelligence Detect Autism?": https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-science-of-autism/202312/can-artificial-intelligence-detect-autism

Seen on BBC web site "My autistic self": https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/playlists/my-autistic-self Four short video clipsabout people on the autistic spectrum.

Seen online article titled "Greta Thunberg is far from the only neurodivergent climate activist – many who see the world differently also want to change it": https://theconversation.com/greta-thunberg-is-far-from-the-only-neurodivergent-climate-activist-many-who-see-the-world-differently-also-want-to-change-it-210492 The article contains a section about Autistic traits and activism.

There are some more autism related petitions on the UK Government and Parliament petitions website, including: "Fund an autism awareness campaign The Government should fund an awareness campaign to help people understand autism. In particular it should help people understand how to better approach people with autism and cope/ spread awareness of their mannerisms and how they express their emotions. More details Because I personally have autism and I struggle to express my emotions properly. As a result, it has caused arguments and I don't feel it’s right that me or anyone else with autism should be made to feel bad for something they can't control. ": https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/644986 "Review treatment of neurodiverse prisoners Neurodiverse prisoners can be extremely vulnerable in prison settings and in too many cases we believe they are not being treated fairly or having their needs met. This staff having no understating of the needs of neurodiverse people, and neurodiverse prisoners being punished unfairly. More details We want the Government to review treatment of neurodiverse prisoners, to identify any issues with how neurodiverse prisoners are treated at present, and consider reforms that would ensure that all neurodiverse prisoners are treated fairly and have their needs met. ": https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/643253

I wasn't good at learning a second language at school. I had to resit my o grade French but passed all my other o grades first time. I couldn't access an online video or transcript of Bérengère Digard's presentation. But here is a link to some of the researchers publications: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/berengere-digard

Some autism stories from the Welcome collection web site: https://wellcomecollection.org/search/stories?query=autism

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Article seen online, titled "Like many women, I didn’t know I was autistic until adulthood – how late diagnosis can hurt mental health and self image" https://theconversation.com/like-many-women-i-didnt-know-i-was-autistic-until-adulthood-how-late-diagnosis-can-hurt-mental-health-and-self-image-212561

Article seen online titled "Is Hercule Poirot autistic? Here are seven clues that he might be": https://theconversation.com/is-hercule-poirot-autistic-here-are-seven-clues-that-he-might-be-210725

Article seen online titled "How the tourism industry – and other travellers – can help families of autistic children get the break they deserve": https://theconversation.com/how-the-tourism-industry-and-other-travellers-can-help-families-of-autistic-children-get-the-break-they-deserve-180715

I like walking up the Royal Mile during the Fringe there is a great atmosphere therewith interesting performances and everybody seems to be in a good mood.

Did you see any red squirrels?

Some shows with an autistic theme at Edinburgh festival fringe 2023: "Beehavioural Problems: Something Something Autism" https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/beehavioural-problems-something-something-autism "Baby Belle: Young, Dumb and Full of Autism" https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/baby-belle-young-dumb-and-full-of-autism "129.5 Steps to Autistic Success" https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/129-5-steps-to-autistic-success "Blue Badge Bunch: ReRamped" https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/blue-badge-bunch-reramped "Don Biswas – The Revolution Will Be Disorganised" https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/don-biswas-the-revolution-will-be-disorganised "Colin Etches: Attention Deficit" https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/colin-etches-attention-deficit

There are some autism related petitions on the UK Government and Parliament petitions website, including: "Increase funding for autism/ADHD assessments to reduce waiting times The Government should increase funding for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD assessments to ensure that these take place within 18 months of referral. Currently, some areas take two years to carry out assessments, while others take six years. It is too long for a child to wait. Children waiting years for ASD/ADHD assessments are being failed by the Government. This can massively affect every part of the child's life. Some of these children are in crisis and need help. More funding is required to do this through the NHS, as it can cost around £4,000 to have a private assessment, which can be done within weeks." The Deadline for this petition is 10 January 2024. Link to petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/640581 Also, "Fund screening for Autism, ADHD and Dyspraxia in all primary schools Fund a national screening programme in all primary schools for Autism, ADHD and Dyspraxia. Far too many children are missed and end up dysregulated and in crisis in the secondary years. These crises are preventable if we understand and meet need earlier in life. More details Governments have consistently supported the national healthy child programme including vaccinations, hearing, sight and weight. We believe not taking adequate action to identify neurodivergence is a national emergency. This screening programme should use an assessment battery, rather than ADOS. We believe this would help ensure that the needs of children are met before they become dysregulated, which would be a better use of public money." Petition was rreated by Dr Shirley Woods-Gallagher and the deadline is 27 September 2023 Link to petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635256 These are amongst a number of autism related petitions on the UK Government and Parliament petitions website there are also some others, see link below: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions?state=open&q=autism