banner
LightNews
proudmum95.bsky.social
Dr Jackie Ryan
@proudmum95.bsky.social
2.2K followers 720 following 26 posts
I am an Autistic autism researcher. Latest project is co-design of a toolkit for staff to support Autistic autonomy. Autistic rights are human rights. Participatory autism research. #AutRes
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
proudmum95.bsky.social
Dr Jackie Ryan @proudmum95.bsky.social · Nov 21
Open access Research 101 training is now available. It was created with Autistic adults. Ideally, researchers would use this training for their Autistic collaborators who want more information about research. salvesen-research.ed.ac.uk/our-projects...
Research 101: Collaborating in Participatory Autism Research
Research 101 is a training course designed by and for autistic people. The purpose of the course is to educate autistic people who are not academics or professional researchers, so they can be more in...
salvesen-research.ed.ac.uk
3 24 56
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
jaimehoerricks.bsky.social
Jaime Hoerricks, PhD @jaimehoerricks.bsky.social · 1d
A critique of “consensus” in autism research—how inclusion becomes performance, power remains untouched, and cure rhetoric persists. Yet amid it all, autistic-led scholarship rises—quiet, defiant, building truth brick by brick

open.substack.com/pub/autside/...
Consensus Without Consent: The Myth of Democracy in Autism Research
On the illusion of democracy in autism research—and the quiet, stubborn work of autistic scholars reclaiming the right to define our own existence.
open.substack.com
1 3 7
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
wardqnormal.bsky.social
Ward Q. Normal (he/him) @wardqnormal.bsky.social · 20d
Steve Silberman is so pissed about this Tylenol bullshit that he's screaming from the afterlife he didn't even believe in.

Increased rates of autism are due to testing, a broadened definition, and greater awareness. It's not vaccines. It's not Tylenol.

It's like his work never happened.
62 650 2.9K
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
shannonrosa.bsky.social
Shannon Rosa @shannonrosa.bsky.social · 22d
Three incredible books and writers, for when you allow yourself to step back from screaming at the world:

Death of the Author, by @nnedi.bsky.social.
The Book of Love, by @kellylink.bsky.social
Indiginerds, edited by @alinapete.bsky.social

What are your current three "take me away" reads?
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 24d
"I practice self-care by turning off the news periodically, and stepping back from the world. I made the realization that in my fight for justice, I was hurting my own mental health." Autistic academic TC Waisman on self-compassion and resilience, at TPGA:

thinkingautismguide.com/2025/09/cher...
Cherishing Compassion While Autistic and Marginalized
T.C. Waisman, Monique Botha, and Wenn Lawson—three deeply compassionate autistic experts—on navigating the world while autistic.
thinkingautismguide.com
1 2 2
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Autistic Realms (Helen Edgar) @autisticrealms.bsky.social · Aug 23
Explore 10 key ideas for neuro-affirming practice.
Building neurodivergent competency means creating safety & belonging. Inspired by David…

https://autisticrealms.com/creating-autistic-safety-and-belonging-10-ideas-for-neurodivergent-competency/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social
Post Image
1 7 7
proudmum95.bsky.social
Dr Jackie Ryan @proudmum95.bsky.social · Aug 12
My research, "‘It's Really Who They Are and What They Want’: Staff Perspectives on Supporting Autonomy for Autistic Adults With Intellectual Disabilities", has been published! Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/jar.... #publishedarticle @wileyinresearch
‘It's Really Who They Are and What They Want’: Staff Perspectives on Supporting Autonomy for Autistic Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
Background Autonomy is a crucial component of self-determination, yet it is limited for Autistic individuals, especially those with co-occurring intellectual disabilities. We explored how profession...
doi.org
1 5
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
pattern-chaser.bsky.social
Pattern-chaser @pattern-chaser.bsky.social · Jul 9
To anyone who is NOT #autistic, you need to know this.

A person can be an #autist AND an #arsehole, but one does not cause the other! This is true no matter what defence lawyers (or the gutter press) tell you. #Autism does not make you saint or sinner; you do that yourself.

#GreggWallace #ElonMusk
9 66 390
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
mayraphotography.bsky.social
𝑀𝒶𝓎𝓇𝒶°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🫧 @mayraphotography.bsky.social · May 14
Repost if you’re still calling it the Gulf of Mexico. ✋🏽
190 1.7K 2.7K
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
kbottemabeutel.bsky.social
Kristen Bottema-Beutel @kbottemabeutel.bsky.social · Jun 2
With @michealsandbank.bsky.social @shanclapoint.bsky.social @jhinsonwilliams.bsky.social @yueyangshen.bsky.social Ruoxi Guo, and Tiffany Woynaroski
1 1
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
kbottemabeutel.bsky.social
Kristen Bottema-Beutel @kbottemabeutel.bsky.social · Jun 2
We conclude that, because of a lack of appropriate conceptualization of what constitutes "problem behavior" and poorly validated measures, we know very little about how interventions might support autistic children who engage in behavior that could be harmful to themselves or others. 4/4
1 2 7
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
kbottemabeutel.bsky.social
Kristen Bottema-Beutel @kbottemabeutel.bsky.social · Jun 2
and all but one measure mixed together behaviors that were inherently harmful (e.g., aggression) and behaviors that were nonnormative but not inherently harmful (e.g., hand flapping). 3/4
1 2 2
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
kbottemabeutel.bsky.social
Kristen Bottema-Beutel @kbottemabeutel.bsky.social · Jun 2
and only 8% of studies defined the behavior construct they targeted. For the most common "problem behavior" measures, only two were validated along six different validation dimensions in autistic children, 2/4
1 2 2
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
kbottemabeutel.bsky.social
Kristen Bottema-Beutel @kbottemabeutel.bsky.social · Jun 2
Curious about how autism intervention researchers define and measure "problem behavior"? We examined 102 intervention studies with young autistic children and found that only 1/3 of studies give a reason for targeting the behavior they aim to reduce, 1/4
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
<em>Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry</em> | ACAMH Pediatric Journal | Wiley Online Library
Background Some autistic children exhibit behavior that caregivers, clinicians, and researchers consider problematic. However, there is little consensus about the types of behaviors that should be t...
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
2 16 44
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social
Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · May 26
www.amazon.com/Science-Unde...
Preorder Science Under Siege
8 48 190
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
calgaryoccupy.bsky.social
Occupy Calgary 🇨🇦 @calgaryoccupy.bsky.social · May 25
~5 Manipulation Tactics Premier Danielle Smith Uses

These tactics appeared in Danielle Smith's May 5th speech to Albertans.
Angela WelzAlbertans United To Stop The UCP sSodrenopt94a9733c049if278tfh22i886f1i13utl7l809m22llct464lg · 5 Manipulation Tactics Premier Danielle Smith Uses 1. Victimhood Framing She paints Alberta as a victim of Ottawa - saying billions are taken, jobs are lost, and opportunities are stolen. > Why it's manipulative: It makes people feel attacked, even when the situation is more complex. It turns federal policies into personal betrayals, which increases anger and fear. 2. Scapegoating the Federal Government She blames almost every problem - economy, jobs, investment, inflation - on Ottawa, > Why it's manipulative: It simplifies complex issues and deflects attention from what her own government could be doing better. It makes one easy enemy, the feds. 3. Us vs. Them Language She divides Canadians into good Albertans vs. out-of-touch eastern elites, freedom-loving citizens vs, interfering bureaucrats. > Why it's manipulative: It creates tribal loyalty, making people suspicious of outsiders or those who disagree. It makes unity look like weakness and division look like a strength. 4. Emotional Extremes She uses strong emotional words like 'attacks', 'crippling , 'ravaged,' and 'hostile. > Why it's manipulative: This ramps up fear and urgency, When people are scared or angry, they stop questioning - and follow the strongest voice in the room. 5. Pretending to Be the Only Reasonable Voice She says she respects both separatists and federalists and just wants "a fair deal." She seems moderate - while planting radical ideas (like separation) as "understandable." > Why it's manipulative: It disguises hardline rhetoric as balanced. It allows her to push extreme positions without taking full responsibility. These tactics appeared in Danielle Smith's May 5th speech to Albertans.
15 98 180
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
suereviews.bsky.social
Sue Fletcher-Watson @suereviews.bsky.social · May 7
Really thrilled to be able to announce this! Writing this with Robert has been a huge honour and I can’t wait to hear what readers think of it.
drrobertchapman.bsky.social
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.
2 9 43
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · May 5
"I want parents to learn what disability advocates taught me, what I wish I had known before my son’s diagnosis: that autistic people have always been part of our societies, & are valuable human beings who deserve unqualified love, acceptance, & access to supports."

www.buzzfeed.com/shannonrosa/...
My Autistic Son Needs 24/7 Support. And That's OK.
We have a good life, because we stopped buying into mainstream notions about what happy families look like.
www.buzzfeed.com
1 39 130
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
uoppald.bsky.social
MSc Psychology and Learning Disability @uoppald.bsky.social · May 4
@drstevenkapp.bsky.social's panel at International Society for Autism Research on Neurodivergence-affirming research practices for autistic people w/ high support needs illustrates relevance of neurodiversity framework for people w/ significant disabilities - an important principle of our MSc course
hannahmorton.bsky.social
Hannah Morton @hannahmorton.bsky.social · May 3
As an autism community we should be coming together to defend and support the services and supports that allow autistic people to live a life of their choosing
- @drstevenkapp.bsky.social

Thank you Dr. Kapp for your continued leadership and advocacy at #INSAR2025 and beyond
Steven Kapp presenting at a podium at INSAR
10 22
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · May 3
Question: How can we include autistic people with high support needs who also have motor difficulties that can interfere with some forms of successful AAC use?

Sutherland: Simpler methods like PECs can help. But important to acknowledge that some people don't yet have successful AAC.

#INSAR2025
1 3 7
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Dr Aimee Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · May 3
An excellent website full of Holly's excellent PhD work, presentations & publications:
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · May 3
Sutherland: Some subjects' hand flapping can mean happiness or distress.

For more information on the study, go to heasutherland.com.

#INSAR2025
Holly E. A. Sutherland
Holly E. A. Sutherland, PhD - autistic autism researcher.
heasutherland.com
5 9
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · May 3
Sutherland: when they've talked to care providers, they find out via that they actually do share goals with the #neurodiversity paradigm. And then the research speaks for itself, because it's addressing those shared goals.

#INSAR2025
1 3 8
proudmum95.bsky.social
Dr Jackie Ryan @proudmum95.bsky.social · May 3
Grateful for your live skeeting!
2
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
draimeegrant.bsky.social
Dr Aimee Grant @draimeegrant.bsky.social · May 3
Completely agree with Blasko and Jaswal: Access to AAC is a human rights issue for non-speaking and semi-speaking Autistic people.

#INSAR2025
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · May 3
Blasko and Jaswal: Many autistic people with the highest support needs have not been provided with appropriate AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).

#INSAR2025
8 21
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · May 3
Now Q&A (though we have to leave in 5 min for #AutINSAR prep, darn it).

First question: How do we overcome the manufactured divide of #ProfoundAutism?

#INSAR2025
3 1 7
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
thinkingautism.com
Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · May 3
Blasko: (using AAC in real time) I hope the questions are kind, and I have strong feelings but I am respectful [*got up to pace*] of all perspectives.

#INSAR2025
1 3 10
Reposted by Dr Jackie Ryan
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Dr Aimee Fletcher (@aimee_speaks) @aimeespeaks.bsky.social · May 3
Blasko using AAC: "I hope the questions are kind, and I habe strong feelings, and I am respectful of all perspectives."

#INSAR2025
1