Dr Aimee Fletcher (@aimee_speaks)
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aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Dr Aimee Fletcher (@aimee_speaks)
@aimeespeaks.bsky.social
2.4K followers 710 following 610 posts
Autistic autism researcher, passionate about making museums (and all of society) accessible. Lover of photography, stained glass window making, and music.

Participation Coordinator at Scottish Autism. Working to ensure all autistic people are listened to.
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aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️
- Starting a new stained glass piece as a Christmas present
- Seeing most of my family this weekend
- My first paper as a co-author being published!
- Putting my Christmas tree up & following an annual tradition of decorating, eating curry and watching a movie with friends.
A work in progress stained glass window piece sits on a piece of paper. The glass is cut to a pattern of a bee in a hexagon shape. The bee is yellow with black pieces still to be cut for it's body. The wings are a bluey-greeny-purple iridescent glass and the hexagon pieces are green and "confetti" glass that is clear with specs of green, yellow and orange in it. Aimee's Christmas tree is up, decorated and lit. A wonky (since fixed!) Star sits on the top. The tree has a mix of silver decorations with more "special" ones, such as handmade glass ones, wooly sheep, baubles from places Aimee has visited and special baubles gifted thst mark her PhD.
November 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️

- Celebrating my partner's birthday
- Going to good comedy nights, supporting my partner and friends
- Finally getting the glass all cut for my current glass piece
- Rewatching highlights from Autism Europe
- First academic journal article I'm a co-author on was accepted! 🥳
Aimee's current stained glass piece awaiting copper foiling to attach all the pieces.
November 10, 2025 at 11:42 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️

- Positive feedback from presenting at an important meeting
- Making progress on a tricky stained glass piece
- Spending time with friends and exploring familiar places together
- Embracing autumn time
- Making research progress on a project started last year
- Pacing myself.
Stained glass window in progress: glass pieces are laid on a piece of paper in a plastic polypocket. The design is of a Tenement doorway, the glass is red, black, purple and grey. The next stage is for the glass to be soldered together using copper foil. A Halloween themed treat sits on a table. A latte with ghost foam art and a pumpkin patisserie-style dessert sit on a marble-style table with a pink vase holding autumn-themed red leaves and a pumpkin candle holder with a black burn candle. A line of trees on a curving path have a combination of orange and yellow leaves. A path is covered in dropped leaves. The grass is green, with leaves under the trees covering the ground. The sky is cloudy with hints of blue in the background.
November 3, 2025 at 11:48 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joy's ✨️

- Catching up with friends in a different city
- Enjoying the autumnal weather on a walk with a friend
- Sharing my PhD research findings with a really nice group
- Hearing that a journal article I've co-authored has been accepted
- Spending time in a new-to-me museum
An empty art gallery room with paintings from floor to ceiling. The ceiling is arched with windows, the walls are painted red and the floor is wood panels. A curving path in a grassy park has autumnal trees lining it going from green on the left to fully red and orange leaves on the right side. Leaves cover the ground under the trees.
October 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joy's ✨️

- Speaking on a panel at a Fringe event at the SNP conference & being listened to by a full room of engaged politicians
- Receiving really positive feedback about my speech
- Positive meeting with a new colleague
- Catching up with family & friend while visiting the city 😁
Aimee speaks about her lived experience of being autistic and the importance of politicians taking action to improve the lives of autistic, neurodivergent and people with learning disabilities. The photo is from the side of Aimee, who is sitting down with her script on her lap. Four panel members are listening closely and looking towards Aimee as she speaks. The "Scottish Autism" banner is in the background. A bird's-eye view from the 2nd floor of Aberdeen Art Gallery down to the ground floor. A circular opening leads the eye down th a black, grey and white tiled floor. The 1st floor balcony is held up by granite columns.
October 13, 2025 at 7:06 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️

- Meeting and sharing ideas with others that has inspired new ideas
- Cheering for two friends as they completed a half marathon (then celebrating together)
- Making progress in a project I have been working on
- Hearing good news about an article
- Spending time with family
Aimee and Matt smile with two friends, Fran and Sarah, who are wearing medals after completing a half marathon. We are huddled together in a big grassy park with lots of people in the background and cloudy, overcast sky.
October 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys: Birthday edition! ✨️
- Having most of the last 2 weeks off to spend time with a friend visiting from the US
- Celebrating a milestone birthday with a trip & afternoon tea with important people in my life
- Smiling and creating new special memories
- Feeling appreciated and loved
Aimee smiles and wears a pastel dress with hearts, smiley faces and flowers. She wears a rose gold glitter sash and tiara with 30 on it. Behind her are fairy lights on the ceiling, paintings and 3 0 balloons in pink. She sits at a table set for afternoon tea. Aimee and a group of friends sit on a sofa together. Aimee is in the centre wearing a headband that said happy birthday and her friends wore party hats. All smile towards the camera. Aimee and three friends wear sunglasses and smile at a camera in front of Harewood Estate near Leeds.
September 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
There were no Monday Joys yesterday, not because there weren't any - but because there were so many over #AECONGRESS2025 that I'm still resting up.

Oh, and my wonderful friend from my masters has also arrived for a visit so we spent time having afternoon tea.

I'm filled with a lot of joy currently
Aimee and her friend Elena sit at a table with afternoon tea cakes on the table. We smile big smiles, reunited after a year apart, and delighted to be in our favourite window seat. Aimee and the incredible TC Waisman smile big smiles in a photo together in the main hall at Autism Europe. TC wears a floral jacket, blue jeans, white rimmed glasses and brogue heels. Aimee wears a denim jacket, coral dress with love hearts and her 'conference shoes' (black doc marten Mary jane shoes with black bows). Aimee presenting her research using slides to a very full (overflowing!) Room of people. People are taking pictures of Aimee's slides and sitting on the floor and standing to the side of seats. A group of happy people who had attended day 1 of Autism Europe are smiling in a traditional Irish pub. The Room is filled with excited chatter, catching up and steak and Guinness pie.
September 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Wenn and Peter ask "how did we do?"

Bloody brilliant, if you ask me. Excellent first keynote of the last day. 🙂
Peter and Wenn stand in front of their slide with the Muppets slide from the start with "How did we do? We appreciate your comment"
September 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
First invited speakers today are the incredible Wenn Lawson and Peter Vermeulen.

Their talk is on compassion and self-compassion. It looks at autistic and non-autistic self-compassion.

#AECONGRESS2025
Photo of Wenn Lawson and Peter Vermeulen presenting at Autism Europe with a slide of both men with their heads on the older heckling Muppets from the Muppets.
September 13, 2025 at 8:07 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
The talk went well! Massive thanks to everyone for coming along (super full room!)

Massive thanks to everyone who asked questions & came up to speak to me afterwards - 30 mins of wonderful questions, observations and tips.

I know it clashed with other fab talks - so do reach out!

#AECONGRESS2025
Aimee presenting to a very full room about her PhD research. She is at a podium, with a very engaged audience, with a slide saying "museum workers want to be more accessible... but they experience barriers."
September 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Good morning #AECONGRESS2025!

I won't be live posting this morning as I prepare for my own oral presentation as part of the Creating Safe and Autism Friendly Environments 1 panel between 10-11am. My talk is at 10:45, & it is on my PhD research.

I am wearing my teal suit (pictured, no tie). Say hi!
Aimee stands in front of a blue tardis/police box. She is wearing a patterned shirt either books on it in blue, teal and pink, teal cord trousers and is holding her thesis. She smiles with curly brown hair.
September 12, 2025 at 7:19 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Like what you hear from these posts? Sue has shared about two books, one coming out in March with @drrobertchapman.bsky.social and It Takes All Kinds of Minds (photo with covers)
September 11, 2025 at 2:20 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Completely and utterly honoured to be in TC's research village.

TC is a leader, a powerful and wonderful researcher and friend.

This presentation was the hope, the beacon to lead the way to make the world better, and the invite to everyone to be that beacon.

Thank you, TC.

#AECONGRESS2025
September 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
"We are beacons. We are here today, we recognise that there is value in autistic and every single person or we wouldn't be here."

We can challenge VUCA as a village.

#AECONGRESS2025
September 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Creating resilient villages:

TC highlights how universal design, participatory practices, disability rights movements and Indigenous activism approaches can build resilient villages.

TC shares some lessons from our past, from movements that have resulted in rights.

#AECONGRESS2025
September 11, 2025 at 11:04 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Utterly excited to hear the incredible TC Waisman present:

"Beacons in a volatile world: how research, policy and practice have become beacons."

TC opens by sharing her Fiji roots & leadership.

"The thing about leadership in the village is if you lead you are a leader

#AECONGRESS2025
September 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Good morning #AECONGRESS2025!

As is my conference tradition, here is a photo of me taken today to show what I am wearing in case you would like to say hello.

I will be live posting the conference again for accessibility, but please note there may be talks I can't share or don't have the energy for
Conference tradition, Aimee has taken a selfie of her so people can find her. She has long brown wavy hair, a dress with poppy illustrations, smiles with speech bubble earrings that say "Neurodiverdent crew"
September 11, 2025 at 7:38 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️

- Catching up with a friend, sharing my favourite part of the town I live in (with delicious cherry pie) with her and showing her where I made her glass piece
- Sharing ideas with others
- Getting organised for attending (& speaking at!) my first Autism Europe later this week
A delicious slice of warm cherry pie with a golden crust and sugar granules on top. A stained glass archway depicting an abstract scene of the River Clyde, Glasgow, with the Armadillo SECC building in the centre. Beneath the arch are plants in a greenhouse.
September 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
There were no Monday Joys this week because I was enjoying my holiday to London with Matt.

We went to:
- 2 Gorillaz gigs & their immersive House of Kong exhibition (dreams came true)
- 5 museums (I can't resist a good museum)
- caught up with 2 friends
- went to the BBC Proms
- ate very good food
View of all the musicians who performed with/as Gorillaz, alongside artist Jamie Hewlett, on stage at Copper Box Arena. On the screen is one of Jamie's illustrations of Pazuzu with the words "you have been watching GORILLAZ" across it. The band Gorillaz performing Demon Days Live on stage with illustrations in the style of a church stained glass window. Sold out crowd have their hands in the air while the band play. Aimee and Matt pose in front of Gorillaz posters. Aimee is wearing the Gorillaz tshirt she got for Christmas when she was 11 years old (somehow still fitting nearly 20 years later!) And Gorillaz converse from c. 2013. View of the stage of Copper Box Arena when watching the Gorillaz perform their first album live. Behind the live band is a huge screen with a snapshot of a moment from the 19-2000 music video. Illustrations and videos played throughout the show, combining the live music orchestrated by Damon Albarn with Jamie Hewlett's creative illustrations and characters.
September 2, 2025 at 8:08 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
I feel like August has come and gone in the blink of an eye (and all of this summer, in all honesty)!

On Monday I was presenting about my lived experience of going through education (early years through university) & job seeking as an autistic person, and what would have helped me.
Aimee stands in front of a window. She is speaking with a smile and looking to her slides (out of view). She is wearing a black dress with herbs and their labels as the pattern.
August 27, 2025 at 10:12 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
So here I am "shouting about it", as I'm incredibly grateful for all the love, support, celebrations and kindness I've received throughout the PhD, since submitting, passing the viva, having corrections accepted and graduating.

So. Much. Joy. 😊
Aimee and Lorraine cut a Victoria sponge cake like we are cutting a wedding cake. On the table are two bottles of prosecco with graduation caps, a Dr card with a teddy bear wearing graduation gowns and caps sit on the windowsill. We both smile.
August 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️
- Being spoiled alongside a fellow friend who also graduated with her PhD during the same week I did with a surprise lunch
- Winning a round of Bongo's Bingo (which included a "dance off")
- Making progress on a glass piece that is a present
- Receiving really kind feedback 😊
Aimee and Lorraine smile while holding a glass of prosecco. We are both dressed in black and white outfits (unplanned!) while sitting at a table with brunch food. Aimee's bingo sheet showing she has a full house (all numbers were called in one box).
August 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️

- Supporting my partner while he performed during the Fringe (more shows to come!)
- Catching up with old friends
- Starting a new glass piece as a present
- Challenging disability discrimination and getting a more promising response than the usual copy & paste email.
Aimee, Winnie and Matthew smile in a selfie photo with iced chocolate drinks during the Fringe.
August 4, 2025 at 6:53 PM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
Today's Monday Joys ✨️
- taking a day of annual leave to celebrate two lovely friend's celebrating their birthday
- showing these lovely friends around a place I spent a large chunk of my childhood
- making progress with a very important work project
- printing special pictures & giving them as gifts
Aimee, Lucy and Alicia are three brunette women smiling in a selfie in front of Loch Fyne on a cloudy day. Tarbert Castle, Scotland, is a Scottish castle ruin on a hill overlooking a bay in Loch Fyne. Grey clouds ready to pour are above the castle, which has a Scottish flag waving on a pole at the top. The grassy summit the castle stands on overlooks a bay with boats and distant mountains on the other side of the mountain.
July 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM