Steven Kapp
@drstevenkapp.bsky.social
Autistic ADHDer autism, neurodiversity researcher. Disability rights advocate. Developmental psychologist; Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Portsmouth.
He/him. Views my own.
He/him. Views my own.
100 years ago the prolific psychiatrist Grunya Sukhareva published her work on autism in girls. The world too long ignored the scholarship and clinical care of a pioneering Ukrainian Jewish woman.
February 5, 2026 at 11:01 AM
100 years ago the prolific psychiatrist Grunya Sukhareva published her work on autism in girls. The world too long ignored the scholarship and clinical care of a pioneering Ukrainian Jewish woman.
This reminds me of how Catherine Lord, speaking for the workgroup for the revision of autism in the DSM-5, said autism includes strengths but they are irrelevant for diagnosis.
Yet holistic assessment would strengthen research, understanding, and practice.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Yet holistic assessment would strengthen research, understanding, and practice.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
February 2, 2026 at 11:44 AM
This reminds me of how Catherine Lord, speaking for the workgroup for the revision of autism in the DSM-5, said autism includes strengths but they are irrelevant for diagnosis.
Yet holistic assessment would strengthen research, understanding, and practice.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Yet holistic assessment would strengthen research, understanding, and practice.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Steven Kapp
Last month, Secretary Kennedy had a press conference where he claimed that the original intent of the ADA was to exclude trans people. So I asked a bunch of experts and someone who was actually there.
Disability groups are standing united for trans rights. That hasn't always been the case.
Forty years ago, disability advocates abandoned the LGBTQ+ community in exchange for legal protections. Decades later, they are fighting a Trump administration rule to roll-back more safeguards for tr...
19thnews.org
January 29, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Last month, Secretary Kennedy had a press conference where he claimed that the original intent of the ADA was to exclude trans people. So I asked a bunch of experts and someone who was actually there.
Looking forward to my module (class) Neurodiversity Studies restarting tomorrow. I give students early access to research & we discuss current developments/news, in addition to planned structure. Links to news below:
sam.gov/workspace/co...
arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
www.hhs.gov/press-room/h...
sam.gov/workspace/co...
arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
www.hhs.gov/press-room/h...
January 28, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Looking forward to my module (class) Neurodiversity Studies restarting tomorrow. I give students early access to research & we discuss current developments/news, in addition to planned structure. Links to news below:
sam.gov/workspace/co...
arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
www.hhs.gov/press-room/h...
sam.gov/workspace/co...
arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
www.hhs.gov/press-room/h...
Reposted by Steven Kapp
Folks tend to assume that anyone who claims to be an autism advocate is working on behalf of autistic people's wellbeing. Unfortunately, that is often untrue—especially with parents who promote " #ProfoundAutism." Why? @ejwillingham.bsky.social explains in our latest, thread-worthy newsletter. 1/
January 27, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Folks tend to assume that anyone who claims to be an autism advocate is working on behalf of autistic people's wellbeing. Unfortunately, that is often untrue—especially with parents who promote " #ProfoundAutism." Why? @ejwillingham.bsky.social explains in our latest, thread-worthy newsletter. 1/
Reposted by Steven Kapp
“We already knew that self-identifying autistic adults often encountered barriers when seeking a diagnosis… We also did not know that most self-identifying adults want a diagnosis. This is the first study to report greater unemployment, worse mental well-being, and greater unmet support needs...”
While UK is proposing to narrow diagnoses (!), our new study led by @isaacahuvia.bsky.social: adults w/ self-identified autism had more unmet needs & higher distress, & similar understanding of autism, than officially diagnosed peers. Most wanted formal diagnosis journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Identifying as Autistic Without a Formal Diagnosis: Who Self-Identifies as Autistic and Why? - Isaac L. Ahuvia, Emine Gurbuz, Josephine Cuda, Steven K. Kapp, Abigail Houck, Jacquelyn A. Gates, Jessica...
Background: Adults increasingly self-identify as autistic without a formal diagnosis, yet little research has systematically investigated (a) the unique charact...
journals.sagepub.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:30 AM
“We already knew that self-identifying autistic adults often encountered barriers when seeking a diagnosis… We also did not know that most self-identifying adults want a diagnosis. This is the first study to report greater unemployment, worse mental well-being, and greater unmet support needs...”
While UK is proposing to narrow diagnoses (!), our new study led by @isaacahuvia.bsky.social: adults w/ self-identified autism had more unmet needs & higher distress, & similar understanding of autism, than officially diagnosed peers. Most wanted formal diagnosis journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Identifying as Autistic Without a Formal Diagnosis: Who Self-Identifies as Autistic and Why? - Isaac L. Ahuvia, Emine Gurbuz, Josephine Cuda, Steven K. Kapp, Abigail Houck, Jacquelyn A. Gates, Jessica...
Background: Adults increasingly self-identify as autistic without a formal diagnosis, yet little research has systematically investigated (a) the unique charact...
journals.sagepub.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:32 PM
While UK is proposing to narrow diagnoses (!), our new study led by @isaacahuvia.bsky.social: adults w/ self-identified autism had more unmet needs & higher distress, & similar understanding of autism, than officially diagnosed peers. Most wanted formal diagnosis journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Quoted in CNN & Guardian “implication is that society needs to stop going down rabbit holes of seeking false prevention of developmental disabilities. Instead, we should focus on making the world a better place for disabled people.”
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/16/h...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/16/h...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Study debunks Trump claim that paracetamol causes autism
Taking drug in pregnancy does not raise chances of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability, ‘gold standard’ review finds
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Quoted in CNN & Guardian “implication is that society needs to stop going down rabbit holes of seeking false prevention of developmental disabilities. Instead, we should focus on making the world a better place for disabled people.”
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/16/h...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/16/h...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Reposted by Steven Kapp
I don't think people who haven't gone through burnout understand what burnout is. And autistic burnout in particular. Higher education is perfectly designed to induce it and I'm trying very hard to reconcile my career with my ability to function day-to-day.
I dunno which industry he’s talking about but it applies to Higher Education.
The scale of redundancy plans & hiring freezes is clearly creating situations in which those who remain are at higher risk of burnout.
It’s a serious health & safety issue That most employers are not taking seriously
The scale of redundancy plans & hiring freezes is clearly creating situations in which those who remain are at higher risk of burnout.
It’s a serious health & safety issue That most employers are not taking seriously
Burnout is genuinely life-destroying and I really can't say, on this website, what I think should happen to managers who not only let it happen to one individual worker but who systemically make it happen on large groups of workers.
January 17, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I don't think people who haven't gone through burnout understand what burnout is. And autistic burnout in particular. Higher education is perfectly designed to induce it and I'm trying very hard to reconcile my career with my ability to function day-to-day.
"assisted methods to teach typing, long dismissed, deserve new, careful study. Revisiting these teaching methods could expand access to effective communication and improve quality of life for more nonspeaking autistic people."
Milestone publication for INSAR.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Milestone publication for INSAR.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Why We Need to Study Assisted Methods to Teach Typing to Nonspeaking Autistic People
At least one third of autistic people have limited or no speech. Most nonspeaking autistic people are never provided alternatives that would enable the full range of expression that speech allows, si...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:19 PM
"assisted methods to teach typing, long dismissed, deserve new, careful study. Revisiting these teaching methods could expand access to effective communication and improve quality of life for more nonspeaking autistic people."
Milestone publication for INSAR.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Milestone publication for INSAR.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Steven Kapp
Yes, JD. Let’s ask them if they think a stay at home mom, avowed Christian, and widow of a veteran deserved to be shot in the face and left to bleed out in her own car after dropping her 6-year-old off at school, for the crime of looking out for her neighbors. Let’s ask everyone running for office.
January 8, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Yes, JD. Let’s ask them if they think a stay at home mom, avowed Christian, and widow of a veteran deserved to be shot in the face and left to bleed out in her own car after dropping her 6-year-old off at school, for the crime of looking out for her neighbors. Let’s ask everyone running for office.
Reposted by Steven Kapp
The Autism Intersectionality & Mental health outcomes (AIM) Lab at the UNC TEACCH Autism Program is recruiting participants for a new research study
paid!!!
to understand the experiences and opinions of autistic people about psychiatric medication for co-occurring mental health conditions.
paid!!!
to understand the experiences and opinions of autistic people about psychiatric medication for co-occurring mental health conditions.
January 7, 2026 at 8:28 PM
The Autism Intersectionality & Mental health outcomes (AIM) Lab at the UNC TEACCH Autism Program is recruiting participants for a new research study
paid!!!
to understand the experiences and opinions of autistic people about psychiatric medication for co-occurring mental health conditions.
paid!!!
to understand the experiences and opinions of autistic people about psychiatric medication for co-occurring mental health conditions.
Reposted by Steven Kapp
- Helping a friend with recruitment -
If anyone here knows a queer and neurodivergent TikTok user aged 16-25 who would be up for an online interview (including silent scrolling time!), would you let them know about my study?
I would be so grateful 🎓🌈
linktr.ee/nqresearch.s...
If anyone here knows a queer and neurodivergent TikTok user aged 16-25 who would be up for an online interview (including silent scrolling time!), would you let them know about my study?
I would be so grateful 🎓🌈
linktr.ee/nqresearch.s...
January 5, 2026 at 11:40 AM
- Helping a friend with recruitment -
If anyone here knows a queer and neurodivergent TikTok user aged 16-25 who would be up for an online interview (including silent scrolling time!), would you let them know about my study?
I would be so grateful 🎓🌈
linktr.ee/nqresearch.s...
If anyone here knows a queer and neurodivergent TikTok user aged 16-25 who would be up for an online interview (including silent scrolling time!), would you let them know about my study?
I would be so grateful 🎓🌈
linktr.ee/nqresearch.s...
Congratulations to @kmunday.bsky.social and all you accomplished last year! Well done navigating "side quests" (you accepted nearly all the ones you brought to my attention). This is one perhaps most relevant to the PhD.
Your plainer language summary is again here: autisticltd.co.uk/2025/12/22/u...
Your plainer language summary is again here: autisticltd.co.uk/2025/12/22/u...
January 2, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Congratulations to @kmunday.bsky.social and all you accomplished last year! Well done navigating "side quests" (you accepted nearly all the ones you brought to my attention). This is one perhaps most relevant to the PhD.
Your plainer language summary is again here: autisticltd.co.uk/2025/12/22/u...
Your plainer language summary is again here: autisticltd.co.uk/2025/12/22/u...
New paper (w/ accompanying video) below by @themiskaraminis.bsky.social shows trust in right-wing newspapers relates to harsher attitudes toward autistic ppl despite what ppl admit.
Ties in w/ @thinkingautism.com’s piece connecting grievance parents to MAGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2022/11/grie...
Ties in w/ @thinkingautism.com’s piece connecting grievance parents to MAGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2022/11/grie...
December 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
New paper (w/ accompanying video) below by @themiskaraminis.bsky.social shows trust in right-wing newspapers relates to harsher attitudes toward autistic ppl despite what ppl admit.
Ties in w/ @thinkingautism.com’s piece connecting grievance parents to MAGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2022/11/grie...
Ties in w/ @thinkingautism.com’s piece connecting grievance parents to MAGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2022/11/grie...
This gets to the article too. The network is ResearchGate osf.io/preprints/ps...
OSF
osf.io
December 6, 2025 at 6:58 PM
This gets to the article too. The network is ResearchGate osf.io/preprints/ps...
The research I alluded to and co-authored is here. It is accepted in the top autism journal Autism in Adulthood and is yet to be online: www.researchgate.net/profile/Stev...
www.researchgate.net
December 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The research I alluded to and co-authored is here. It is accepted in the top autism journal Autism in Adulthood and is yet to be online: www.researchgate.net/profile/Stev...
UK Government is trying to co-opt neurodiversity movement through claiming neurodivergents may simply be different & not disabled, when we advocate we are both (& disability is social-relational). We need more diagnoses - research: self-identified autistic ppl have more distress & higher unmet needs
A talk I gave earlier this year has, unfortunately, become relevant again this week so I've published it here.
open.substack.com/pub/neurodiv...
open.substack.com/pub/neurodiv...
The Fascist Echo in Labour's "Over-diagnosis" Inquiry
Why Wes Steeting's new inquiry is about more than just renewed austerity
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
UK Government is trying to co-opt neurodiversity movement through claiming neurodivergents may simply be different & not disabled, when we advocate we are both (& disability is social-relational). We need more diagnoses - research: self-identified autistic ppl have more distress & higher unmet needs
Reposted by Steven Kapp
We have a new paper out! We interviewed 8 autistic teachers to ask about their experiences in US schools. www.liebertpub.com/doi/epub/10....
December 3, 2025 at 4:20 PM
We have a new paper out! We interviewed 8 autistic teachers to ask about their experiences in US schools. www.liebertpub.com/doi/epub/10....
For convenience: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
We provide an overview, case studies documenting issues, and suggestions for future research.
We provide an overview, case studies documenting issues, and suggestions for future research.
(PDF) Participatory Approaches to Neurodiversity-Affirming Research: Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations for Conducting Better and More Intersectional Work
PDF | Participatory research with Autistic collaborators uses democratic decision-making to maximize the collaboration of Autistic people throughout the... | Find, read and cite all the research you n...
www.researchgate.net
December 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
For convenience: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
We provide an overview, case studies documenting issues, and suggestions for future research.
We provide an overview, case studies documenting issues, and suggestions for future research.
Beyond paper below I've contributed to many research outputs lately on reshaping research & practice for justice for neurodivergent ppl inc
Epistemic Justice, Safety, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice: A Lived Experience-Led Response to Wade and Waller (2025)
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Epistemic Justice, Safety, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice: A Lived Experience-Led Response to Wade and Waller (2025)
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
December 3, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Beyond paper below I've contributed to many research outputs lately on reshaping research & practice for justice for neurodivergent ppl inc
Epistemic Justice, Safety, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice: A Lived Experience-Led Response to Wade and Waller (2025)
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Epistemic Justice, Safety, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice: A Lived Experience-Led Response to Wade and Waller (2025)
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
This manuscript is the culmination of years of discussions and work on how projects that aspire to do participatory research with autistic people can truly be inclusive and neurodiversity-affirming, reflecting our experiences on two initiatives. Nothing About Us Without Us!
New preprint alert! Drawing from our experiences and observations on two initiatives with participatory aspirations, we have identified challenges, strategies, and recommendations for better and neurodiversity-affirming autism research. 10.13140/RG.2.2.27146.12481 1/
December 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
This manuscript is the culmination of years of discussions and work on how projects that aspire to do participatory research with autistic people can truly be inclusive and neurodiversity-affirming, reflecting our experiences on two initiatives. Nothing About Us Without Us!
Some of these organizations have, like ASAN, but in their own statements. We need to show the strength in coalition against this disinformation agenda. autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/kenn...
Kennedy’s lies endanger public health and the disabled community
The science is clear. As the American Academy of Pediatrics stated, “Since 1998, independent researchers across seven countries have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies involving over 5.6 mill...
autisticadvocacy.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Some of these organizations have, like ASAN, but in their own statements. We need to show the strength in coalition against this disinformation agenda. autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/kenn...
Leading health+
www.apha.org/news-and-med...
and autism & disability organizations
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead... have released "big tent" statements calling out the CDC's lies about vaccines & autism.
We need to also call for RFK Jr.'s resignation - his agenda is a danger to public health.
www.apha.org/news-and-med...
and autism & disability organizations
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead... have released "big tent" statements calling out the CDC's lies about vaccines & autism.
We need to also call for RFK Jr.'s resignation - his agenda is a danger to public health.
Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Statement on CDC's Vaccines and Autism Page
As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of autistic individuals and partners across the disability and public health sectors, we are deeply disappointed by the latest update to...
autisticadvocacy.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Leading health+
www.apha.org/news-and-med...
and autism & disability organizations
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead... have released "big tent" statements calling out the CDC's lies about vaccines & autism.
We need to also call for RFK Jr.'s resignation - his agenda is a danger to public health.
www.apha.org/news-and-med...
and autism & disability organizations
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead... have released "big tent" statements calling out the CDC's lies about vaccines & autism.
We need to also call for RFK Jr.'s resignation - his agenda is a danger to public health.