Aut_Scot

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

Seen online an article on AuDHD (where someone is on the autistic spectrum and also has ADHD) called "What is AuDHD? 5 important things to know when someone has both autism and ADHD": https://theconversation.com/what-is-audhd-5-important-things-to-know-when-someone-has-both-autism-and-adhd-233095

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