Peter Crosbie
@petercrosbie.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Oh, look. A load of coverage about a new government inquiry into "overdiagnosis" that completely blurs autism & mental illness, and ends up leaning into all those tropes about people making it all up.
December 4, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Oh, look. A load of coverage about a new government inquiry into "overdiagnosis" that completely blurs autism & mental illness, and ends up leaning into all those tropes about people making it all up.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Autism is not a mental health condition in and of itself and ironically if we didn't have to fight to survive in a predominantly neurotypical world, most of us would not suffer with poor mental health at all!
December 4, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Autism is not a mental health condition in and of itself and ironically if we didn't have to fight to survive in a predominantly neurotypical world, most of us would not suffer with poor mental health at all!
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
What is autism?
Autism happens in the brain.
It's not a bunch of observable traits.
It's a PROCESSING difference...
In the brain.
Autism happens in the brain.
It's not a bunch of observable traits.
It's a PROCESSING difference...
In the brain.
December 4, 2025 at 4:12 AM
What is autism?
Autism happens in the brain.
It's not a bunch of observable traits.
It's a PROCESSING difference...
In the brain.
Autism happens in the brain.
It's not a bunch of observable traits.
It's a PROCESSING difference...
In the brain.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Undiagnosed autism is everyone thinking you're a complete weirdo
Diagnosed autism is telling people you're autistic and everyone being confused because you look "completely normal"
Diagnosed autism is telling people you're autistic and everyone being confused because you look "completely normal"
December 2, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Undiagnosed autism is everyone thinking you're a complete weirdo
Diagnosed autism is telling people you're autistic and everyone being confused because you look "completely normal"
Diagnosed autism is telling people you're autistic and everyone being confused because you look "completely normal"
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
"disparities in ABA services for autistic children"?--authors' poorly-sourced & ill-founded premise is that ABA is beneficial (vs harmful) & more ABA is better (e.g. "ABA is most effective when... delivered at a high intensity") journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... no, not in an ABA journal, free
Short report: Disparities in hours of applied behavior analysis services for Medicaid-enrolled autistic youth - Diondra Straiton-Webster, Brooke Ingersoll, 2025
To date, no studies have investigated whether disparities in hours of applied behavior analysis (ABA) exist in the Medicaid system. We used multilevel modeling ...
journals.sagepub.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
"disparities in ABA services for autistic children"?--authors' poorly-sourced & ill-founded premise is that ABA is beneficial (vs harmful) & more ABA is better (e.g. "ABA is most effective when... delivered at a high intensity") journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... no, not in an ABA journal, free
Note the age range. Yes, there are autistic people in their 90’s — and every other age, for that matter.
And yes, there were autistic people around when you were a kid; the difference is that back then we didn’t have the language or diagnostic tools to identify them. I speak from experience …
And yes, there were autistic people around when you were a kid; the difference is that back then we didn’t have the language or diagnostic tools to identify them. I speak from experience …
Comparing self-harm & suicidality in autistic vs non-autistic adults aged 40-93 years (mean age 60) link.springer.com/article/10.1... 55% of autistics, vs 13.3% of non-autistics, responded "yes" to the question, "Have you deliberately harmed yourself, whether or not you meant to end your life?"
Self-harm and suicidality experiences of autistic and non-autistic adults in midlife and old age - Molecular Autism
Background Suicide has been reported as a leading cause of premature death in autistic populations. Additionally, risk of suicidality is often found to increase with age in the general population. Des...
link.springer.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Note the age range. Yes, there are autistic people in their 90’s — and every other age, for that matter.
And yes, there were autistic people around when you were a kid; the difference is that back then we didn’t have the language or diagnostic tools to identify them. I speak from experience …
And yes, there were autistic people around when you were a kid; the difference is that back then we didn’t have the language or diagnostic tools to identify them. I speak from experience …
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
1/ The @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk report notes that the rise in public awareness of autism has not led to better understanding and acceptance of autistic people.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
Autism Act 2009 - Reports, special reports and government responses - Committees - UK Parliament
Report, special report and government response publications for Autism Act 2009.
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 8:10 AM
1/ The @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk report notes that the rise in public awareness of autism has not led to better understanding and acceptance of autistic people.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
Not to mention, studies suggesting that up to 10% of all suicides could be autistic people.
That in a context where the vast majority of autistic adults do NOT have a diagnosis, or realise that they’re autistic. As such, they don’t even begin to get the support they need, or (self) understanding.
That in a context where the vast majority of autistic adults do NOT have a diagnosis, or realise that they’re autistic. As such, they don’t even begin to get the support they need, or (self) understanding.
There is a suicide epidemic in the autistic community.
We are 11x more likely to take our own lives.
35% have tried.
Suicidal thoughts happen to most of us (66%)
Let’s remember that & support each other and work together to fight the stigma against us neuronormative society.
We are 11x more likely to take our own lives.
35% have tried.
Suicidal thoughts happen to most of us (66%)
Let’s remember that & support each other and work together to fight the stigma against us neuronormative society.
November 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Not to mention, studies suggesting that up to 10% of all suicides could be autistic people.
That in a context where the vast majority of autistic adults do NOT have a diagnosis, or realise that they’re autistic. As such, they don’t even begin to get the support they need, or (self) understanding.
That in a context where the vast majority of autistic adults do NOT have a diagnosis, or realise that they’re autistic. As such, they don’t even begin to get the support they need, or (self) understanding.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
If you are autistic but don't have a diagnosis (for whatever reason, it doesn't matter)...
I see you.
You are valid.
Your experiences are real.
And you are welcome here. 🤗
I see you.
You are valid.
Your experiences are real.
And you are welcome here. 🤗
November 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
If you are autistic but don't have a diagnosis (for whatever reason, it doesn't matter)...
I see you.
You are valid.
Your experiences are real.
And you are welcome here. 🤗
I see you.
You are valid.
Your experiences are real.
And you are welcome here. 🤗
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Alexithymia isn’t lack of emotion.
It’s emotion without translation.
The feelings are there.
The map isn’t.
And yet autistic people blame themselves for being “numb.”
You’re not numb - you’re flooded.
Your body is speaking a language you were never taught.
It’s emotion without translation.
The feelings are there.
The map isn’t.
And yet autistic people blame themselves for being “numb.”
You’re not numb - you’re flooded.
Your body is speaking a language you were never taught.
November 26, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Alexithymia isn’t lack of emotion.
It’s emotion without translation.
The feelings are there.
The map isn’t.
And yet autistic people blame themselves for being “numb.”
You’re not numb - you’re flooded.
Your body is speaking a language you were never taught.
It’s emotion without translation.
The feelings are there.
The map isn’t.
And yet autistic people blame themselves for being “numb.”
You’re not numb - you’re flooded.
Your body is speaking a language you were never taught.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
You're Not Autistic? That can't be true. I have a 4-year-old nephew who is Not Autistic and he's nothing like you! 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 AM
You're Not Autistic? That can't be true. I have a 4-year-old nephew who is Not Autistic and he's nothing like you! 🧵
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Autism is a lifelong difference. We don’t “grow out of Autism”. #ActuallyAutistic
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Autism is a lifelong difference. We don’t “grow out of Autism”. #ActuallyAutistic
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
up there with the best album opener / best opening lyrics of all time.
this is such a winter album for me. perfection.
this is such a winter album for me. perfection.
November 20, 2025 at 11:25 PM
up there with the best album opener / best opening lyrics of all time.
this is such a winter album for me. perfection.
this is such a winter album for me. perfection.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Hatred towards autism has allowed conspiracy theories about autism and vaccines to thrive.
November 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Hatred towards autism has allowed conspiracy theories about autism and vaccines to thrive.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Why it's important to push back against the dangerous #ProfoundAutism label; + CN: Suicide:
"Stereotypes created by 'Profound Autism' risk denying suitable support from many Autistic persons, which will predictably result in more Autistic suicides."
thinkingautismguide.com/2023/09/grav... #autism
"Stereotypes created by 'Profound Autism' risk denying suitable support from many Autistic persons, which will predictably result in more Autistic suicides."
thinkingautismguide.com/2023/09/grav... #autism
Grave Concerns About Profound Autism
The label "Profound autism" bungles the support needs of autistic people with complex disabilities, and will endanger autistic lives.
thinkingautismguide.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Why it's important to push back against the dangerous #ProfoundAutism label; + CN: Suicide:
"Stereotypes created by 'Profound Autism' risk denying suitable support from many Autistic persons, which will predictably result in more Autistic suicides."
thinkingautismguide.com/2023/09/grav... #autism
"Stereotypes created by 'Profound Autism' risk denying suitable support from many Autistic persons, which will predictably result in more Autistic suicides."
thinkingautismguide.com/2023/09/grav... #autism
November 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I wrote about this in relation to other cognitive biases. As the study points out "autistic individuals are less susceptible to social influence and cognitive biases than non-autistic individuals". A significantly under-researched characteristic of autism.
autism-advantage.com/autistics-do...
autism-advantage.com/autistics-do...
November 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I wrote about this in relation to other cognitive biases. As the study points out "autistic individuals are less susceptible to social influence and cognitive biases than non-autistic individuals". A significantly under-researched characteristic of autism.
autism-advantage.com/autistics-do...
autism-advantage.com/autistics-do...
"serious flaws, inconsistencies, and contradictions" ... hardly rare in research around autism, especially for both causes and (lord forbid) cures.
Assessing the literature, finding "serious flaws, inconsistencies, and contradictions that... undermine any claims about the involvement of the gut microbiome in autism" & "in many of the studies... some or all of the authors have competing commercial interests" www.cell.com/neuron/fullt... free
Conceptual and methodological flaws undermine claims of a link between the gut microbiome and autism
Claims that the gut microbiome causally contributes to autism regularly appear in
the scientific literature and popular press. Mitchell et al. critically examine influential
studies underpinning these...
www.cell.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM
"serious flaws, inconsistencies, and contradictions" ... hardly rare in research around autism, especially for both causes and (lord forbid) cures.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
It absolutely beggars belief that with all the evidence we have of climate change there are still people who deny it exists. While countries like the USA roll back what little moves there have been to tackle it, the situation is getting pretty dire for the planet.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:49 AM
It absolutely beggars belief that with all the evidence we have of climate change there are still people who deny it exists. While countries like the USA roll back what little moves there have been to tackle it, the situation is getting pretty dire for the planet.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
Yet another new study that's found that ABA therapy is linked to worse mental health outcomes. The number of hours of "therapy" did not make a difference--any exposure to ABA is traumatic. You can't fix conversion therapy. LGBT conversion therapy has similar results in studies.
#autism #ABA #trauma
#autism #ABA #trauma
Mental health outcomes associated with applied behavior analysis in a US national sample of privately insured autistic youth - Nahime G Aguirre Mtanous, Jamie Koenig, Melica Nikahd, Sarah E Effertz, S...
Applied behavior analysis is a widely used intervention for autistic youth, though its mental health impacts remain under-researched. This study aims to investi...
journals.sagepub.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
"Burnout as experienced by autistic people is characterised by profound exhaustion, loss of functional abilities, and a chronic course marked by intermittent crises, with impacts on sensory, emotional, cognitive, and daily life functioning" www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... systematic review
Burnout as experienced by autistic people: A systematic review
‘Autistic burnout’ is described as a debilitating state of exhaustion experienced by autistic people due to living in a world that often lacks accommo…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:12 AM
"Burnout as experienced by autistic people is characterised by profound exhaustion, loss of functional abilities, and a chronic course marked by intermittent crises, with impacts on sensory, emotional, cognitive, and daily life functioning" www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... systematic review
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
No it doesn't say that, no autism isn't an illness as @kathryndeplume.com below says. Where are the science journalists who actually understand results sections? Covid infection is bad full-stop but this study does not show a link to autism. And it's also damaging to the autistic community.
Researchers say Covid infection during pregnancy is tied to autism
Researchers say Covid infection during pregnancy is tied to autism
www.independent.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 11:22 PM
No it doesn't say that, no autism isn't an illness as @kathryndeplume.com below says. Where are the science journalists who actually understand results sections? Covid infection is bad full-stop but this study does not show a link to autism. And it's also damaging to the autistic community.
"autistic people have noticeable sensory & movement differences from day one"
You don't become autistic, you're born autistic. Nothing that occurs after birth will make you more or less autistic.
You don't become autistic, you're born autistic. Nothing that occurs after birth will make you more or less autistic.
Rethinking autistic "regression": Research shows autistic people have noticeable sensory & movement differences from day one, e.g. autistic babies smile at least as much as non-autistic ones—just less in response to parent social cues. @drstevenkapp.bsky.social:
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/int...
Frontiers | Sensory–movement underpinnings of lifelong neurodivergence: getting a grip on autism
While the autism diagnosis emphasizes “deficits” in social communication, the article advances that sensory–movement differences underpin autism through a re...
www.frontiersin.org
October 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"autistic people have noticeable sensory & movement differences from day one"
You don't become autistic, you're born autistic. Nothing that occurs after birth will make you more or less autistic.
You don't become autistic, you're born autistic. Nothing that occurs after birth will make you more or less autistic.
Reposted by Peter Crosbie
I've never seen a single skill taught to an autistic kid by an ABA therapist that required ABA therapy to be learned. Not one.
I *have* seen many harms imposed upon autistic kids because ABA therapists considered autistic traits like sensory needs "behaviors," however.
#BetterWaysThanABA #autism
I *have* seen many harms imposed upon autistic kids because ABA therapists considered autistic traits like sensory needs "behaviors," however.
#BetterWaysThanABA #autism
October 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I've never seen a single skill taught to an autistic kid by an ABA therapist that required ABA therapy to be learned. Not one.
I *have* seen many harms imposed upon autistic kids because ABA therapists considered autistic traits like sensory needs "behaviors," however.
#BetterWaysThanABA #autism
I *have* seen many harms imposed upon autistic kids because ABA therapists considered autistic traits like sensory needs "behaviors," however.
#BetterWaysThanABA #autism
“the terms ‘neurological diversity’ and ‘neurodiversity’ were first printed in 1997 and 1998, respectively, in the work of the journalist Harvey Blume, who himself attributed them not to Singer but rather to the online community of autistic people”
Today in re-emphasizing what's what: "For some time, the concept of neurodiversity has primarily been attributed to one person, Judy Singer. We consider the available evidence and show that the concept and theory in fact has multiple origins."
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#neurodiversity
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#neurodiversity
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 19, 2025 at 6:32 AM
“the terms ‘neurological diversity’ and ‘neurodiversity’ were first printed in 1997 and 1998, respectively, in the work of the journalist Harvey Blume, who himself attributed them not to Singer but rather to the online community of autistic people”