Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · 8d

Survey closing at midnight ! 🕛

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Jul 7

📢 Recruiting participants for my PhD study!

🟢 Do you work in a school in the UK?
🟢 Do you work with neurodivergent and/or SEND or ASN students?
🟢 Does your school have a sensory room or therapy garden ?

Chance to win a £50 voucher for your school!

edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

A sensory room with light blue walls, fish and bubble stickers, bean bags, a white bag of fidget toys and plushies, a book box and foam panels on the walls and floor.

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Katie Cebula @katiecebula.bsky.social · 16d

Important every day, but today feels like a particularly good day for sharing neuro-affirming educational films about autistic experiences.

Thriving Autistic @thrivingautistic.bsky.social · 17d

We are delighted to share two new neuro-affirming educational animation films about Autistic Experiences.
Find out more, watch the films and read our blogs:
1.Discovering You're Autistic
2.Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic
www.thrivingautistic.org/autistic-exp...

2 3 7

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

EngagewithDLD @edldproject.bsky.social · 20d

Happy Thursday E-DLD followers! Today we are introducing one of our ECR Research Associates!

Kyleigh’s social media handles:
Instagram: @kylovestudying
BlueSky: @kyleighmelville.bsky.social
X: @MelvilleKyleigh
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kyleighmelville

#devlangdis #DLD #ECR #researchassociate

2 5

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Aug 29

My wonderful supervisor @katiecebula.bsky.social is running a Sibling Cafe for care experienced adults and supporters of care experienced individuals 🌱 Come along for a cosy chat with coffee/tea, and Tunnocks ☕️ 🍰

Friday 5th Sep 2-4 PM @ University of Edinburgh

Katie Cebula @katiecebula.bsky.social · Aug 27

Are you:
⭐a care experienced adult (16+years) OR the supporter (e.g. foster parent, adoptive parent, residential carer) of a care experienced child/adult in Scotland?
⭐ free on Fri 5th Sept 2-4pm?

[1/2]

Picture shows a small rubber duck, 3 Tunnocks caramel wafers, 2 Tunnocks Teacakes. There is also a sheet with logos of Research Data Scotland and the University of Edinburgh which reads 'Sibling Cafe: Finding out more;
There is also a QR code which links to edin.ac/4cIYdcs

2

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Aug 2

Still recruiting participants for my online survey on experiences of using sensory rooms with neurodivergent / SEN / ASN students !

Especially keen to hear from school-based therapists 🎨

edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Recruitment poster for an online survey. The poster is asking for participation from school-based staff who work with neurodivergent students and use sensory rooms or therapy gardens. The poster is a light blue gradient colour and has an orange circle in the middle with two graphics of an occupational therapist and a child playing in a sensory room. The study is being conducted by a researcher based at the University of Edinburgh.

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Autistic Realms (Helen Edgar) @autisticrealms.bsky.social · Jul 24

Fabulous research by Wassell (2025) about the importance of Autistic Joy & monotropism!
"Autistic voices suggest that the key barrier to
joyful experience is not autism itself but other
people's lack of acceptance of authentic
autistic behaviours such as stimming and
pursuit of special interests."

Thriving Autistic @thrivingautistic.bsky.social · Jul 24

Research Reshare!
Experience of Autistic Joy!
Embrace Monotropism!

4 Themes
Autistic sensorium as a source of joy
Importance of special interests
Things must be right
Other people need to change

Wassell, E. (2025). Experiences of autistic joy. Disability & Society, 1–26. doi.org/10.1080/0968...

3 9 22

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Zarah Sultana MP @zarahsultana.bsky.social · Jul 24

It's time for a new kind of political party - one that belongs to you.

Sign up at yourparty.uk.

160 390 1.1K

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Jul 7

📢 Recruiting participants for my PhD study!

🟢 Do you work in a school in the UK?
🟢 Do you work with neurodivergent and/or SEND or ASN students?
🟢 Does your school have a sensory room or therapy garden ?

Chance to win a £50 voucher for your school!

edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

5 2

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Disability Rights UK @disrightsuk.bsky.social · Jul 3

We refuse to let co-production be co-opted. It is a complicated and unique process that involves the centring of Disabled voices and experiences - not as a tick box exercise, but making our experiences central to decision making.

Some food for thought this #CoProWeek2025

1 5 23

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Jul 2

Spent Canada Day recording my first podcast w/ Dr Hope Christie & Tooled Up Education on my research on multi-sensory environments, LEGO-Based Therapy and how my experience of teaching neurodivergent students inspired my research journey 🌈 Free to listen!

creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

Episode 202 - Dr Hope Christie Talks with Kyleigh Melville: Effective Use of Multi-Sensory Spaces in Schools by Dr Kathy Weston's Get a Grip! Parenting Podcast

In this episode, we chat with Kyleigh Melville, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh and experienced SEND educator, about the power and potential of multi-sensory environments in schools. Dr...

creators.spotify.com

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Jun 27

I had such a wonderful time at #NDAS2025 sharing my PhD work-in-progress with fellow researchers at @citystgeorges.bsky.social. There is so much excellent work going on in the realm neurodevelopmental psychology 🧠 Can’t wait for NDAS 2026 in Durham ✨

4

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Jun 22

Still can’t believe it … I’m engaged ! ✨

1

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · Jun 12

📢 Still recruiting UK school staff who work with neurodivergent, SEND and ASN students and use multi-sensory environments. The survey’s designed with the support of a Lived Experience Advisory Group and there’s a prize draw to win a £50 voucher ! ⭐️

edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

1 3 6

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Katie Cebula @katiecebula.bsky.social · Jun 3

Are you:
⭐the parent of an autistic child and their neurotypical sibling (both 5 - 12 years & within 5 years of each other)?
⭐in Scotland?
We are recruiting for a study looking at how parents support autistic children and their siblings to play together. More info/register interest: edin.ac/4mWJsrw

Poster reads:
Parents of autistic children ages 5-12 years.
The University of Edinburgh
Sibling Play Study
Compensation of £30 voucher per family
Join us to better understand how parents support sibling interactions for autistic children.
This study involves a home visit and an interview.
If you are interested and would like more information scan the QR code below to register interest.
[Note - QR code links to: https://edin.ac/4mWJsrw ]

Contact: Matthew Klein v1mklei2@ed.ac.uk
The University of Edinburgh
Moray House School of Education and Sport

7 3

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

pawfectly @pawfectly.bsky.social · Jun 1

Happy Pride Month #cat #pride #pridemonth 🏳‍🌈

130 730 7.7K

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Disability Rights UK @disrightsuk.bsky.social · May 28

🚨Write to your MP to support the cross-party motion against benefit cuts!

We are supporting Sian Berry MP's Early Day Motion calling on the Government to stop scapegoating Disabled people.

✍️Write to your MP and tell them to support EDM 949!

Learn more 👇 www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/cross-p...

14 16

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Fei Dong @feidong.bsky.social · May 26

a new substack essay about writing for the fan-made lesbian dating sim #heygirliegame (set in the world of dimension 20’s fantasy high), the parasocial tendencies of readers, and why i’ll never use chatgpt.

open.substack.com/pub/feidong/...

1 3

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Katie Cebula @katiecebula.bsky.social · May 26

If you a care experienced adult (16+ years) in Scotland OR the supporter of a care experienced child/adult in Scotland (e.g. foster parent) join us online on Fri 30th May to talk about how sib relationships of care experienced people could be better supported.
Sign up and more info: edin.ac/4cIYdcs

Photo shows 3 Yorkshire teabags, 2 Tunnocks caramel wafers, and 2 Sibling Cafe information sheets.

9 7

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · May 26

✨New blog post! ✨

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Oaklands School and observe how this brilliant community of educators, therapists and support staff use multi-sensory environments with their students. Thank you @team-oaklands.bsky.social for having me, can’t wait to visit again soon!

Oaklands School: A Champion for Sensory Learning Experiences

It’s hard to believe that I’m now approaching the end of my first year of my PhD. This has been a whirlwind of a year characterised by reading hundreds of articles, writing thousands of words that …

multisensoryenvironmentsneurodiversity.wordpress.com

2

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · May 23

My first conference ✅ Thank you @stir.ac.uk for the opportunity to talk about autism, LEGO and how centring the child in research and play as a tool for safety and empowerment, can make schools more than just places of learning, but places of belonging 🌈⭐️🤍

1

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social · May 21

Ooo! You can watch my SmartyPants for free!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxMR...

How to Fix Grocery Stores | Smartypants Presentation

YouTube video by Dropout

www.youtube.com

84 160 1.8K

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · May 22

📢Still recruiting participants!
✨UK school staff who work with neurodivergent, SEND and ASN students and use multi-sensory environments
✨Survey designed with the support of a Lived Experience Advisory Group
✨School prize draw to win a 50 GBP voucher 🏆

edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

2 4

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · May 17

Loch Lomond in spring 🌱

Reposted by Kyleigh Melville

WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · May 14

Please enjoy these shelter pups reacting to getting a kiss. Some are bashful, some have butterflies, and all deserve approximately 10 million more. 14/10 for all

800 5.2K 32K

Kyleigh Melville @kyleighmelville.bsky.social · May 9

My friends are so cool 🥹

rain | the tiger is FREE @rainnallday.bsky.social · May 9

my article on ttrpg and copyright got published!

www.cippic.ca/articles/ope...

Open Game Licenses and Copyright in Tabletop Roleplaying Games: How Innovation Does(n’t) Breed Excellence

After two decades as the dominant voice in the tabletop roleplay (TTRPG) sphere, Wizards of the Coast (Wizards) faced an intense backlash for changing the licensing terms of their most popular propert...

www.cippic.ca

1 3