Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Sep 11

I've been super quiet for a few months but I've re-emerged at Autism Europe in Dublin!
Please say hi! You can also catch me/the Learning About Neurodiversity at School project at symposium S1.06 at 1530 today.
#AEC2025

6

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jun 19

Haven't seen #LEANSproject? Our website is a one-stop shop to download the resources, get articles and recorded talks, and answer all your questions. Visit us here: salvesen-research.ed.ac.uk/leans

Learning About Neurodiversity at School (LEANS)

A free programme for mainstream primary schools to introduce pupils aged 8-11 years to the concept of neurodiversity, and how it impacts our experiences at school.

salvesen-research.ed.ac.uk

1

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jun 19

@suereviews.bsky.social @fergus.oolong.co.uk @reeshazahir.bsky.social and so many more LEANS contributors who either aren't on Bluesky or I can't find them right now!

1 2

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jun 19

Last week, the Learning About Neurodiversity at School #LEANSproject celebrated 3 years since releasing our 100% free classroom resources.
Changing minds and practices takes time--thank you SO much for continuing to download, share, and use LEANS, wherever you are in the world!

A colourful and celebratory image on a yellow-and-white background. On the left, dark blue block text spells out "LEANS is 3!". Smaller orange text below says "(cake time)". Three cartoon illustrations of white cakes with rainbow sprinkles and silver cake servers fill the right side of the frame.

1 3 12

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Special Needs Jungle @spcialndsjungle.bsky.social · Jun 16

Just a few days left to submit evidence for this: Meeting the needs of neurodivergent children and their families living in temporary accommodation - Special Needs Jungle www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...

Call for Evidence: Meeting the needs of neurodivergent children and their families living in temporary accommodation - Special Needs Jungle

Two researchers put out a Call for Evidence from families of neurodivergent children who have experience of living in temporary accommodation

www.specialneedsjungle.com

1

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jun 16

When I moved to the UK, I first saw a child's *drawing* of a Henry Hoover and thought it was so cute and imaginative that they added little eyes to their vacuum. Eventually I saw one in person and went WHAT!

1 2

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Fergus Murray @fergus.oolong.co.uk · Jun 16

Excited to say that I have a chapter in each of two books on neurodiversity & education coming out this autumn, edited by @krysiawally.bsky.social and @keatesresearch.bsky.social. 🎉

Details in following posts. 🧵

Book launch - save the date
6th October on site at University of Sunderland’s London Campus and online
Applications and Practices for Empowering Neurodivergent Learners.
One of two edited collections of research and stories on neurodivergence throughout lifelong learning.
Info: https://linktr.ee/NeurodivergentBook2025

Book launch - save the date
8th September on site at University of Sunderland’s London Campus and online
Neurodivergent Education and Lifelong Learning
One of two edited collections of research and stories on neurodivergence throughout lifelong learning.
Info: https://linktr.ee/NeurodivergentBook2025

5 15 59

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jun 16

These both sound really exciting!

1

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jun 13

@autisticdoctor.bsky.social I wonder if you might know some interested people in the UK? ALL viewpoints welcome in this study!

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Dr. Holly E.A. Sutherland @heasutherland.com · Jun 12

If you're interested in autism, religious experience, and people who are minimally-speaking / have higher support needs, do check out this job at U of Aberdeen:

www.abdnjobs.co.uk/vacancy/rese...

You'd get to work on a very interesting project with a really great team.

Research Assistant/Fellow (DHP143R) | University of Aberdeen

The Centre for Autism and Theology is an international hub for research, working to resource faith communities. Our goal is to ensure that autistic and other neurodivergent people are actively support...

www.abdnjobs.co.uk

5 6

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jun 13

Resesearchers, can you help? My wonderful MSc student Esther is recruiting NOW for an online interview study on how uni-based academic/clinical researchers think and talk about neurodevelopmental diversity in their everyday work (postdocs + up).

We've had loads of spam sign-ups, so really need YOU!

1 5 3

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Robert Chapman @drrobertchapman.bsky.social · May 5

Excited to say that "Neurodiversity: A Very Short Introduction" written by myself and @suereviews.bsky.social is finally ready to preorder! Afaik the first general academic introduction covering the ND movement, ND studies, and applications of ND theory in practice.

global.oup.com/academic/pro...

Orange blending into green book cover of "neurodiversity: a very short introduction" by Robert Chapman and Sue Fletcher Watson, with this text written in a white font.

5 70 270

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Sue Fletcher-Watson @suereviews.bsky.social · May 9

These events are going to be really well run, and capture such important perspectives which will shape future understanding and policy.

If you're eligible please sign-up

if you can share, please do that!

Katie Cebula @katiecebula.bsky.social · May 8

Are you a care experienced adult (16+ years) or the supporter of care experienced children/adults in Scotland (e.g. foster parent, residential carer)? If so, we invite you to come to one of our ‘Sibling Cafes’ in May (choice of in-person or an online). To sign up and for more info: edin.ac/4cIYdcs

2 4

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · May 10

I have been off social media for a while and all I can say is FIRST YEAR OF LECTURING.
Have some events on the horizon, and meeting colleagues/hearing about others' work often makes me feel more inspired to post, so maybe I can make a comeback!

1

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Mar 17

YIKES to this whole situation!!!

1 2

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Jo Billington @drjobillington.bsky.social · Mar 7

Thrilled to find out today that my paper and symposium for the @autismeurope.bsky.social Autism Congress 2025 have been accepted.

So looking forward to presenting our research on neuroinclusive education with @aalcorn.bsky.social @drlornaham.bsky.social and Anna Cook.

Who's coming too?

4 21

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Sue Fletcher-Watson @suereviews.bsky.social · Feb 25

Delighted to share this new open access article which presents four amazing case studies showcasing coproduction methods in neurodevelopmental research

Lots of people have published theory and there are some useful toolkits too, but its still rare to actually read what people did...

rdcu.be/ebbgu

Applied Principles for Inclusive Practice in Neurodevelopmental Research: A Selection and Report of Illustrative Case Studies

rdcu.be

3 36 55

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Laura Crane @lauramaycrane.bsky.social · Feb 18

Really pleased to have been part of the team who authored this new article: 'Applied Principles for Inclusive Practice in Neurodevelopmental Research: A Selection and Report of Illustrative Case Studies'. Huge thanks to @cjcrompton.bsky.social & @suereviews.bsky.social for bringing us all together!

Applied Principles for Inclusive Practice in Neurodevelopmental Research: A Selection and Report of Illustrative Case Studies - Current Developmental Disorders Reports

Purpose of Review Inclusive research practices are important for neurodevelopmental studies, facilitating the involvement of community members throughout the research process. Highlighting this value,...

link.springer.com

5 32 90

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jan 21

I shared this article with some PG students the other week, and they singled it out of a long list as being a particularly helpful and thought-provoking source!

4

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Jenny Gibson @drjennyg.bsky.social · Jan 21

Autistic? Into #comics? Our research project needs you!

From occasional doodlers to published cartoonists, from casual readers to hardcore fans - we would love you to share your views!

Take part in this research by clicking this link:

cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Please share!

Girl in a pink hoodie on her bed, reading a comic. The image is divided in two down the centre. One half of the image is the girl's bedroom with posters and merch from her favourite comic. The other half represents the exciting world the comic is transporting her to. It has darker colours and her hair is depicted as moving.

2 14 10

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jan 21

Man at the co-op just excused his confusion over paying by saying he "hadn't had his morning coffee". After an awkward pause he added defensively to the cashier "Well it's morning SOMEWHERE!"

3

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jan 20

I think there are quite a few people at Bristol Uni psych who may be interested. Will the full call be on the journal website?

1 1

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jan 20

I'm working on a large scale feedback survey right now about an educational resource (sent to thousands of people!).

*In general*, what % of responses might you expect for a feedback survey to majority-UK recipients? Hoping for ~5-10% but have seen wildly varying estimates on this...

Alyssa Alcorn @aalcorn.bsky.social · Jan 15

I feel like January has already lasted SEVERAL years...anyone else?!

2

Reposted by Alyssa Alcorn

Duncan Astle @duncanastle.bsky.social · Jan 10

We are hiring! We're looking for a great project manager to help with a large-scale Wellcome funded study. If you know of anyone that this might appeal to, please share.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/49880/

Project Manager (Part Time, Fixed Term) - Job Opportunities - University of Cambridge

Project Manager (Part Time, Fixed Term) in the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge.

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk

27 24