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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 3h

I honestly wish I'd refused more often. I ended up so very, very burned out. Took years to undo the damage.

Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

#AutismArtOfThePossible
From my perspective, a really fabulous conference with so many good speakers and vital topics.
Do get in contact with @at-autism.bsky.social and team if you need further information, ideas and signposting.

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

The Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC) has done a lot of excellent work. participatoryautismresearch.wordpress.com
and he describes the National Autism Trainer Programme (NATP) as the best he's ever encountered. (Hurrah for our NATP team!). Proper co-production/

The Participatory Autism Research Collective

A community for people who want to promote autistic involvement in autism research

participatoryautismresearch.wordpress.com

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

Damian explains that many conferences are increasingly enabling presentations and active participation & leadership from autistic people. This has taken a lot of effort, but we may be some distance from research that is truly emancipatory, where it makes a big difference to our lives/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

The ethics of this (e.g. potential for eugenics, in future) were challenged by the autistic communities, and the group's own small ethics committee were surprised at the pushback.
My note: They seemingly hadn't considered that autistic people might have their own views/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

Funding still tends to go to nonautistic teams and to groups such as the Spectrum10k group, Damian explains, this being announced on TV and alleging to improve our wellbeing. But how do you do that with a DNA sample, which is what they were collecting?/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

Who gets to speak on behalf of autistic people?
Very few researchers had tried to immerse themselves in autistic people's lives, sharing life alongside us - and therefore hadn't a clue about our lives.
Whilst this is changing, there are still barriers to progress/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

Hardly any research money went into improving autistic lives.

Participatory research with autistic people as proper co-partners wasn't happening, so Damian and others set about changing this.

Damian's interest is also in experiential research - what it's like to be autistic/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

Damian sets out some of the stark realities of early 'participation' of autistic people, [My note: where major charities assumed we were happy to not earn money, and wouldn't pay any of us. ]
There is a continuing conflict between autistic voices and the 'deficit model' of autism/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 7h

#AutismArtOfThePossible
Final conference thread - Dr Damian Milton, sociologist and social psychologist who specialises in autism research, and is an autism rights advocate. He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent and chair of the Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC)/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

Yes, wise to pace yourself.

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

/conference now going to discussions and a break. After the break, a separate thread for the speech by Dr Damian Milton.

PS this is not an 'official' thread - I just work with this lovely team and am very keen to ensure their message gets a really good audience.

#AutismArtOfThePossible

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

My note: Very important to reflect on all that Ken raises in this part of the conference, especially given the extraordinary failures of diagnostic teams to identify anyone who isn't a white boy.

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

His work has led to real changes within the Psychology fields, challenging existing practices and advocating for a more holistic approach that thinks deeply about how to avoid and change racist assumptions and attitudes.
Working with @venessas.bsky.social and many others/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

Many of the Black boys and young men were being described as having behaviour difficulties, rather than exploring an autism diagnosis.
Co-founded a national group for Educational Psychologists, (ASIG-EP), creating networks that can influence positive change/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

Ken shares the struggle of working as a professional in settings where he can face discrimination, health struggles & resulting burnout. Advocating for himself, whilst advocating for others.
Progress happened when adopting the social model of disability rather than endless deficit-based thinking/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

#AutismArtOfThePossible
Next, Ken Greaves, a Specialist Chartered Psychologist with some 35 years of experience working within education, health, social care and work environments.
Embracing Change: It's not just about personal growth. It's about making a meaningful impact with a whole community/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

Joe provides a lot of wisdom about how the SPELL framework (linked elsewhere in today's threads) can be a fantastic one if the outcomes are those driven by the autistic person, not imposed on them by others.
The attitudes of others are vital.
/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

Joe Powell continues by talking about the realities of staff having far more power than the people whose lives they allegedly care for, and how that leads to having to do as you are told, as an autistic adult, in what's supposed to be your own home/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

#AutismArtOfThePossible
Joe Powell, talking to the conference about his own background e.g. www.bihr.org.uk/about-us/mee...
Joe discusses the challenge of organisations that say they 'get it' re autism, but demonstrate exactly the opposite in language & attitudes/

Joe Powell | Trustee

Joe was appointed National Director (now Chief Executive) of All Wales People First as part of a nationwide campaign to appoint someone with lived experience.

www.bihr.org.uk

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

Various new guidance papers are being produced, including those where AT-Autism and allies have had a lot of input.
These are so needed. Do make sure that your own information is absolutely up to date.

Now on to Joe Powell.../

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

So I am very glad to encounter any group of professionals who are working hard to change this system and bring in really up to date information. Justice is never served by making experiences traumatic or completely undoable for people, whether in family Courts or other Courts.

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 8h

Nodding to Alia's comments re how terrifying the legal system can be, for families of neurodivergent children - & of course for the neurodivergent individual too.
My note: When I researched this, there were 15 sets of 'advice' for e.g. Barristers & Judges, all of it containing outdated/wrong info/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 9h

"FLANC was founded in 2024 by a group of expert lawyers dedicated to ensuring the neurodivergent community has equal access to justice by raising awareness and understanding, and addressing barriers to participation neurodivergent people can face in the family justice system." (from their website)/

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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 9h

#AutismArtOfThePossible
Next part of this fabulous conference from @at-autism.bsky.social with Alia Lewis and Ken Greaves.
Alia starting by describing her specialist work at Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community (FLANC). flanc.org.uk

FLANC – Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community

flanc.org.uk

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