I was born in Barnsley, the third of five children, in many ways I am a classic ‘middle child’. I feel I have to try harder and this has made me more determined and competitive. I always thought big and I was the first to move away from home, family and Yorkshire and make...
autism
Approximately 70-80 per cent of autistic children are thought to experience anxiety. Luke Beardon’s book, Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children: A Guide for Autistic Wellbeing, is an accessible and comprehensive guide for anyone who interacts with autistic children, written...
In 2017 I received a diagnosis of autism. During my diagnostic assessment, the Psychiatrist asked me a simple question with surprising consequences:
‘How do you feel about eye contact?’
‘Well’, I explained, ‘I look at someone for a few seconds, then take my cue...
This latest offering from Professor Baron-Cohen goes further than contextualising autism as a strengths-based difference and begins to develop our understanding of the autism neurotype within the evolution of human ingenuity. Baron-Cohen advances his theory that the ‘...
This moving documentary offers a curious and powerful insight into the life of world-known teenage climate activist, Greta Thunberg. Interspersed amongst her many powerful speeches, the audience are also privy to several intimate and funny ...
Hans Asperger was celebrated worldwide. The disability he described in 1944 was named after him and appeared in mainstream diagnostic manuals. His birthday, 18 February, was designated ‘International Asperger’s Day’ and countries across the world marked this date. For many,...
Despite the relaxed legislation on lockdown measures for autistic people brought into effect in April, 86 per cent of those surveyed in a study led by Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou and colleagues still felt that the needs of autistic people and their families were not adequately...
We are living through a social paradox: mental health research has proved that social connection is crucial to wellbeing, yet during this pandemic social isolation is crucial to survival. Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives, but we can often...
In an attempt to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), unprecedented changes have been made to the inherently social world we live in. Though for many this may feel unusual, I cannot help but notice that for those on the autism spectrum, attempting to function...
A briefing document produced by last year’s winner of the joint BPS and Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) postgraduate award has now been published. Margaret Laurie’s note covers information about autism and its prevalence, co-occurring conditions,...