Aut_Scot

A "File on 4 Investigates" radio programme titled "Locked up: Woman held in mental health facility for 45 years" in which reporter Carolyn Atkinson asks why so many autistic people and/or those with a learning disability, including children, are still locked up and why successive governments have failed to meet their promises to move people from hospital to home. "File on four" documentary will be broadcast tonight 4th March 2025 on Radio 4 at 20:00hrs. It will also be available at the following link, for over a year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028jmh

Seen on BBC news site "Autistic woman wrongly locked up in mental health hospital for 45 years An autistic woman with a learning disability was wrongly locked up in a mental health hospital for 45 years, starting when she was just seven years old, the BBC has learned. ..." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly43png991o

Autism related petition open (until 25th August 2025) on the UK Government website by Kael Hopkinson called "Ban Applied Behaviour Analysis Therapy designed to reduce Autistic Stimming" the text of which is "The Government should ban Applied Behaviour Analysis Therapy (“ABA”), for the purpose of reducing soothing “stimming” behaviours in people with autism spectrum disorder. Reports indicate that people with autism spectrum disorder call ABA therapy “abusive” or “traumatic” and some may have c-PTSD as a result. Furthermore, research from the US Department of Defence concluded that ABA is not significantly improving outcomes.". The petition can be found at the link below: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/711392

An neurodivergence related petition created by Laura Charlton, called "Fund more training for teachers on neurodivergence" is currently open on the UK Government website: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/708958

Interesting article seen on the BBC website about a former church minister who was diagnosed with autism in his late fifties, "Former church minister creates art reflecting on his autism": https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyplxe6069o Some of Keith's art: https://keithdruryart.com/neurodiversity

All the best in 2025 for you Gold MD and all the other users of this forum.

Some Autism and neurodiversity petitions currently open on the UK Government website: "Ensure needs of autistic people are met in any future pandemic response": https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702200 "Make autism training mandatory for teachers in schools to help understanding": https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702034 "Improve mental health services for neurodiverse young people": https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/703764 "Make Neurodiversity a protected characteristic in the Equality Act. ": https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701538

There is a "Sunday Worship" programme on BBC Radio 4 next Sunday, 17th November 2024 at 08:10hrs, called "A Church for Everyone?", "Reflecting on the experiences in church of a significant proportion of the population - people who are on the autistic spectrum. … ". More details at the following link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002535k Will likely be able to listen to this for a few weeks after its original broadcast.

Seen on the BBC news web site, an "Autism in the Air" scheme programme is led by Dr Nichola Booth from Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with Belfast City Airport which helps children who are on the Autistic spectrum become familiar with the airport environment, making future travel more accessible and stress-free. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvdklypvpo It sounds to be a very useful scheme. I wonder if something similar could be provided at other airports.

Heard on the radio this morning a special edition of "The Food Programme" titled "Eating on the Spectrum" which explores how neurodivergence can affect the way people eat and experience food. The programme visited the " Aubergine Café" in Cardiff, which is owned and run by autistic individuals, to meet the staff who explain why the café is needed and how it provides a better workplace for neurodivergent people. It also featured expert dietitian David Rex, who supports children with autism facing eating challenges. At The Holmewood School in north London, a specialist school for neurodivergent children, teachers and students share with Leyla how their new food technology kitchen is transforming some children's relationship with food, while also building skills and pride. The programme can be accessed at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023yfp It can also be downloaded.

Apple

Coal (in Morningside) .

"Do you live in Edinburgh? I do. " - Not in Edinburgh, but I live not far away.

Shows with an autistic theme at the Edinburgh festival fringe 2024: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#fq=dates%3A[2024-8-14T5%3A0%3A00Z TO 2024-9-1T5%3A0%3A00Z] OR on_demand%3Atrue&q=autism

Seen online an article titled "How autistic and non-autistic people can understand each other better": https://theconversation.com/how-autistic-and-non-autistic-people-can-understand-each-other-better-234320