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Monotropism.org

@monotropism.bsky.social

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Monotropism is a theory of Autism developed by Autistic people, initially by Dinah Murray and Wenn Lawson. Read about explanations and applications of the theory, its history, and what’s happening now on our website. https://monotropism.org/

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · Nov 16

Welcome. Nice to be here!
This account is intended to be a central resource for learning and sharing about monotropism.
We have an excellent website for everything monotropism related which also houses an archive of the work of Dr. Dinah Murray.
monotropism.org

Monotropism

the mind as an interest system

monotropism.org

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Nathan Keates @keatesresearch.bsky.social · 1d

🗞️ NEWS 🗞️
We are pleased to premiere a series of "talking heads" videos of the co-edited collection Dr Krysia Waldock @krysiawally.bsky.social and I published, providing valuable insights.

An interest-based exploration of Monotropism and its use in the classroom

YouTube video by Neurodivergent Education Books

youtu.be

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Longtail News @longtail.news · 28d

Feed: "Reframing Autism"
By: Emma Marsh on Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Monotropism: Understanding Autistic Ways of Being Through the Lens of Attention

Autism is widely understood as a spectrum, encompassing a broad range of traits and presentations. However, a unifying theory exists that accounts for both the diagnostic features of autism and the vast array of lesser-known Autistic traits – it is known as monotropism.

reframingautism.org.au

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David Gray-Hammond (He/Him) @emergentdivergence.com · 11d

Come and join myself and Tanya Adkin of ND Social Care & Family Services to talk about monotropism and lilipadding in our first live recorded podcast discussion.

Audience members get to ask questions live!

dghndconsultancy.substack.com/p/monotropis...

#Monotropism #Lilipadding #ActuallyAutistic

Monotropism & Lilipadding: Neurodiversity In Discussion- Live

Live podcast Q+A recording!

dghndconsultancy.substack.com

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Isabelle Finn-Kelcey @isabellefk.bsky.social · 12d

Learn from #autistic and other #neurodivergent authored theory & research re #neurodiversity, #monotropism and #doubleempathy.

Use this understanding to make teaching & learning accessible for all students - everyone benefits from ND-affirming approaches 😊

autisticrealms.com/neuro-affirm...

Neuro-Affirming Research in Practice: Supporting Autistic Students, Embracing Monotropism In The Classroom And Beyond | Autistic Realms

Written by Tanya Adkin and Helen Edgar, based on the presentation we delivered to the National Autistic Society Professionals’ Conference in March, 2025. Sh ...

autisticrealms.com

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Autistic Realms (Helen Edgar) @autisticrealms.bsky.social · 9d

Discover Dinah Murray’s concept of co-tropicality. Explore how joining Autistic children in their flow & attention tunnel builds trust, co-regulation, & deep…

https://autisticrealms.com/shared-flow-turning-attention-to-support-children-together/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

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Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics @semascot.bsky.social · 15d

30 September marks #InternationalTranslationDay, a celebration of the bridges language creates. At Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA), translation is more than words. It is about ensuring autistic people from all communities can access respect, dignity, and understanding.

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Human🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️❌👑 @kynyg.bsky.social · 18d

This resonates so hard! I’ve long said the most joyful, peaceful moments of my life are when I’m alone in a silent library at a large smooth table with expansive, un-interrupted hours ahead of me to read/think/write towards an intellectual project of my choosing

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · 18d

Many things that are essential for Autistic wellbeing are generally good for other people too.

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · 18d

Monotropism is also mentioned in 'Neurodiversity in Higher Education:
Reflections From Lived Experience' by
@thendbee.bsky.social & @fergus.oolong.co.uk; 'Autistic Knowledge in Learning and Teaching' by Jessica Spiegler; and 'The Autistic Advantage as an Researcher in Autism' by Esther Whitney.

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · 18d

The other specifically monotropism-themed chapter in Neurodivergent Education and Lifelong Learning is Carl Cameron's The Monotropic Student.

"I cannot stress enough the importance of harnessing interest. It is absolutely the best way of forming
a relationship"
www.igi-global.com/chapter/the-...

Abstract
This chapter examines autism through the lens of an interest-based account of autism, drawing on the experiences of autistic students studying in English Universities. Based on personal insights as an autistic educator and specialist mentor, the author explores how traditional university structures—particularly those that demand frequent attention shifts and multitasking—pose challenges for autistic learners. The discussion highlights the importance of interest, the allocation of resources, attention and focus. Critiquing conventional educational models, the chapter advocates for more linear course structures, individualised support and highlights the challenges faced by autistic students in environments that favour polytropic learning styles and course design. Through case studies and theoretical analysis, it underscores the importance of passion and interest in sustaining engagement while addressing systemic barriers in higher education.

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · 18d

Ania Atkinson's chapter discusses the results of a study exploring monotropism among school students.

She looks at the joy, wellbeing and calmness associated with Autistic learners' intense interests.

Hers is one of two monotropism-themed chapters in this volume; several others also touch on it.

Joy is a concept that is so often missing from today’s society. We have become fixated with the daily
motions and rhythms of modern life that act to conform and restrain us. We live to work, to pay our
mortgages, to behave. Our children live to work, and to behave. We have become joyless. Anyone who
is themselves autistic or knows someone who is, will testify to the powerful joy that monotropic interests
can bring. There is something pure and whole about autistic joy, yet it is so frequently misunderstood
by non-autistic individuals (Kapp et al., 2019). Stimming is a dominant feature of autistic joy (Goodall,
2018), but it is a behaviour which can be discouraged by neuronormative society and seen as something
that should be suppressed (Kapp et al., 2019). Schools are under enormous pressure and may struggle
to keep the joy in learning when faced with so many competing and conflicting demands such as high accountability, workload and budget cuts

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · 18d

"Results showed that participants preferred to learn autodidactically and had a preference to focus on tasks for longer periods of time as opposed to shorter tasks. Participants noted the many benefits of these interests"
www.igi-global.com/chapter/an-i....

Abstract:
This body of work examines an interest-based neuro-affirmative account of monotropism and how this can be applied to education. I draw on data collected from a study where monotropism was explored through a mixed methods approach looking into interests and experiences of autistic people at school. Results showed that participants preferred to learn autodidactically and had a preference to focus on tasks for longer periods of time as opposed to shorter tasks. Participants noted the many benefits of these interests - these included amongst others: its use to stay calm, to be happy, to focus better, and to learn more. The interests that participants took part in were hugely varied and broke down significant stereotypes, suggesting that autistic stereotypes of topics of monotropic interests are not valid or relevant. It is suggested that monotropic interests are encouraged in the school environment and beyond as a tool for lifelong learning. These interests can help with self-regulation, mastery, and are of benefit to the mental health and wellbeing of our autistic community.

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Jess Aiston @jessaiston.bsky.social · 21d

**CALL FOR PAPERS**

Upcoming workshop at QMUL in January, looking at autism, focused interests, and communication across diverse contexts. How can we centre autistic interests as a strength rather than a symptom?

Contributions outside academia welcome.

Please share widely!

Workshop: Focused Interests, Identity, & Autistic Communication Across Contexts. 8-9th January, Queen Mary University of London.

Speakers:
- Dr Liam Cross & Dr Gray Atherton, leading a co-design session to create a board game highlighting strengths of neurodiversity
- Pete Wharmby, neurodiversity advocate
- Professor Rebecca Wood, Glasgow

This workshop will explore how autistic people engage with focused interests in diverse communication settings. Bringing together discourse, narrative, interactional approaches, sessions will examine how intense interests shape storytelling, knowledge exchange, and social connections. We consider how focused interests are differently valued in society and ask what it would mean to centre interests as a strength rather than symtom.

We invite proposals for individual papers and contributions to a roundtable discussion. Contributions from autistic individuals and allies, practitioners, clinicians, and education professionals are especially welcomed.

Submit your proposal to j.aiston@qmul.ac.uk by Friday 14th November

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · 22d

'A Trans-Diagnostic Investigation of Attention and Diverse Phenotypes of “Auditory Hyperreactivity” in Autism, ADHD, and the General Population' by
Patrick Dwyer, @quantpsychiatry.bsky.social, Wenn Lawson, and Susan M. Rivera.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

journals.sagepub.com

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · 22d

"I Spy with my Monotropic Eye: Photography as a Particularly Autistic Medium"

Beautiful photos and reflections in Ought, the Journal of Autistic Culture.
scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ought/vol6/i...

I Spy with my Monotropic Eye: Photography as a Particularly Autistic Medium

By Rachel Heartwood, Published on 06/06/25

scholarworks.gvsu.edu

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Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre @olgatennisonautism.bsky.social · 23d

New on the Blog!

Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm

By Dr Patrick Dwyer

otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/monotropism-...

Screenshot of the OTARC blog, title: Monotropism: Between Obsessive Joy and Overwhelm with a photo of a person holding a camera lens

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Fergus Murray @fergus.oolong.co.uk · Sep 14

Updated my 'conversations and interviews' page with various recent podcasts about monotropism, neurodiversity being autistic and so on.
oolong.co.uk/recordings/#...

Recordings – Fergus Murray

Links are to videos of my work, except where otherwise specified. Apart from the conversations, nearly all of the videos include links to the full text in their

oolong.co.uk

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The Psychologist @psychmag.bsky.social · Sep 15

Me and Monotropism: A unified theory of autism.
@fergus.oolong.co.uk – science teacher, writer and 'autist' – on single attention and associated cognition in autism; a theory with a family connection…
Now with 2025 update.
www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

Me and Monotropism: A unified theory of autism | BPS

Fergus Murray – science teacher, writer and 'autist' – on single attention and associated cognition in autism; a theory with a family connection… Now with 2025 update.

www.bps.org.uk

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Isabelle Finn-Kelcey @isabellefk.bsky.social · Sep 11

Practical suggestions from #AECONGRESS25 on reducing risk of #autistic #burnout, eg in schools. Thanks for sharing!

#neuro-affirming
#neurodiversity
#monotropism
#energyaccounting
#pacing
#inclusion

Dr Aimee Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · Sep 11

Toudal provides a definition of Quality of Life:
Work focuses on work, education and contributions.

For autistic people, this can be:
- not be disturbed
- be understood
- have a purpose
- accepting my autism to create harmony in my life
- access to interests

All human needs.

#AECONGRESS2025

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Ombre Tarragnat (they/she) @ombretarragnat.bsky.social · Sep 12

Happy to share that my paper 'Autistic Situated Knowledges and the Science Question in Autism: Non-Innocent Metaphors in the Theory of Monotropism' is out in HumanaMente! This article is part of a line of thinking I’m currently expanding and revising in my PhD.
www.humanamente.eu/index.php/HM...

View of Autistic Situated Knowledges, Non-Innocent Metaphors, and the Science Question in Autism

www.humanamente.eu

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Dr Becky Wood @thewoodbug.bsky.social · Sep 12

Wenn gives a shout-out to @autisticrealms.bsky.social work and to the monotropism questionnaire.
#AutismEurope25

Screen with links relating to monotropism with Wenn standing in front.

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Dr Becky Wood @thewoodbug.bsky.social · Sep 12

Wenn Lawson is discussing 'special interests' & some recent brain research into this.
Always good to listen to Wenn whose pioneering work has been highly influential on my own. #AutismEurope25

Wenn Lawson standing on a low platform in front of a screen.

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Dr Aimee Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · Sep 12

Now listening to Wenn Lawson speaking on Special Interests.

Wenn is currently sharing about Monotropism - sharing the website www.monotropism.org and the Monotropism Questionnaire.

Lawson shares about autistic experiences of finding connection in different ways.

#AECONGRESS2025

Monotropism

the mind as an interest system

www.monotropism.org

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Jess Aiston @jessaiston.bsky.social · Sep 12

Inspiring talk this afternoon by Wenn Lawson on monotropism and the importance of interests and flow states for autistic quality of life #AECongress2025 #AEC2025

PowerPoint slide - text reads "interests for autistic people that lead to connection seems to happen differently than for allistic people. We need to happily employ flow states, unashamedly, and prosper as autistic people. The flipside to flow is autistic inertia (rapaport et al 2024)

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Monotropism.org @monotropism.bsky.social · Sep 10

You're both in the Monotropism Starter Pack now (not sure why you weren't already)!

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