Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics
@semascot.bsky.social
We strive to improve understanding of being autistic from the various communities of the Global Majority.
www.sema.scot
www.sema.scot
One story that highlights this reality is that of Annabell Downey, a woman with a learning disability whose cancer was diagnosed late because her concerns were not taken seriously.
Listen to her story here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOo8...
Listen to her story here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOo8...
Terminal cancer 'wasn't picked up as quick' because of learning disabilities
YouTube video by Sky News
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
One story that highlights this reality is that of Annabell Downey, a woman with a learning disability whose cancer was diagnosed late because her concerns were not taken seriously.
Listen to her story here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOo8...
Listen to her story here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOo8...
At SEMA, we are committed to shining a light on these inequalities and calling for healthcare that listens, respects, & acts with urgency for every neurodivergent person. This is the second year of the new United by Unique campaign, and we stand with everyone whose concerns are too often overlooked.
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
At SEMA, we are committed to shining a light on these inequalities and calling for healthcare that listens, respects, & acts with urgency for every neurodivergent person. This is the second year of the new United by Unique campaign, and we stand with everyone whose concerns are too often overlooked.
In fact, most people with severe learning disabilities or Down syndrome die within four years of diagnosis, compared to nine years for those without.
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
In fact, most people with severe learning disabilities or Down syndrome die within four years of diagnosis, compared to nine years for those without.
Latest studies show that people with learning disabilities are about half as likely to be referred for urgent investigation, even when they show red-flag symptoms that could indicate cancer. By the time their condition is diagnosed, the disease is often more advanced and harder to treat.
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Latest studies show that people with learning disabilities are about half as likely to be referred for urgent investigation, even when they show red-flag symptoms that could indicate cancer. By the time their condition is diagnosed, the disease is often more advanced and harder to treat.
Our symptoms are often overlooked, concerns dismissed, and our voices not believed, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and unnecessary suffering.
Differences in interoception can also lead to misunderstanding, or worse, mismanagement of treatment.
Differences in interoception can also lead to misunderstanding, or worse, mismanagement of treatment.
February 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Our symptoms are often overlooked, concerns dismissed, and our voices not believed, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and unnecessary suffering.
Differences in interoception can also lead to misunderstanding, or worse, mismanagement of treatment.
Differences in interoception can also lead to misunderstanding, or worse, mismanagement of treatment.
This week is a prompt. The work is ongoing!
You can also read our article on The Cycle of Victimisation Lived Experience, TW: Pain, Physical Harm, Trauma by Maryam here: sema.scot/the-cycle-of...
You can also read our article on The Cycle of Victimisation Lived Experience, TW: Pain, Physical Harm, Trauma by Maryam here: sema.scot/the-cycle-of...
The Cycle of Victimisation Lived Experience, TW: Pain, Physical Harm, Trauma - SEMA.Scot
As far back as I can remember, whenever I spoke up about racial experiences, it was all my fault, always wrong of me to say anything, and I was and […]
sema.scot
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
This week is a prompt. The work is ongoing!
You can also read our article on The Cycle of Victimisation Lived Experience, TW: Pain, Physical Harm, Trauma by Maryam here: sema.scot/the-cycle-of...
You can also read our article on The Cycle of Victimisation Lived Experience, TW: Pain, Physical Harm, Trauma by Maryam here: sema.scot/the-cycle-of...
It could be a moment of exclusion, or a moment of support that made a difference.
🔹 Comment or DM us.
🔹 If you work in a school, charity, NHS, or business in Scotland and want help turning listening into action, get in touch. We can help you build safer, fairer, and more culturally aware practice.
🔹 Comment or DM us.
🔹 If you work in a school, charity, NHS, or business in Scotland and want help turning listening into action, get in touch. We can help you build safer, fairer, and more culturally aware practice.
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
It could be a moment of exclusion, or a moment of support that made a difference.
🔹 Comment or DM us.
🔹 If you work in a school, charity, NHS, or business in Scotland and want help turning listening into action, get in touch. We can help you build safer, fairer, and more culturally aware practice.
🔹 Comment or DM us.
🔹 If you work in a school, charity, NHS, or business in Scotland and want help turning listening into action, get in touch. We can help you build safer, fairer, and more culturally aware practice.
🔹 Inviting more people to share their stories so we can push for meaningful change across workplaces, education, and public services
A simple but powerful action you can take today
🔹 Share one moment you have seen or experienced that shows why change needs all of us.
A simple but powerful action you can take today
🔹 Share one moment you have seen or experienced that shows why change needs all of us.
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
🔹 Inviting more people to share their stories so we can push for meaningful change across workplaces, education, and public services
A simple but powerful action you can take today
🔹 Share one moment you have seen or experienced that shows why change needs all of us.
A simple but powerful action you can take today
🔹 Share one moment you have seen or experienced that shows why change needs all of us.
🔹 Supporting carers and community groups facing cultural and systemic barriers to support
🔹 Providing training, consultation, and space for organisations to learn how to include racialised neurodivergent people with respect and care
🔹 Providing training, consultation, and space for organisations to learn how to include racialised neurodivergent people with respect and care
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
🔹 Supporting carers and community groups facing cultural and systemic barriers to support
🔹 Providing training, consultation, and space for organisations to learn how to include racialised neurodivergent people with respect and care
🔹 Providing training, consultation, and space for organisations to learn how to include racialised neurodivergent people with respect and care
These voices are not rare. They are our communities, right here in Scotland.
Here is what we are doing this week and beyond
🔹 Sharing real experiences from racialised Autistic people and allies, not just abstract ideas
Here is what we are doing this week and beyond
🔹 Sharing real experiences from racialised Autistic people and allies, not just abstract ideas
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
These voices are not rare. They are our communities, right here in Scotland.
Here is what we are doing this week and beyond
🔹 Sharing real experiences from racialised Autistic people and allies, not just abstract ideas
Here is what we are doing this week and beyond
🔹 Sharing real experiences from racialised Autistic people and allies, not just abstract ideas
Last year, we heard from people who had been the only racialised person in a room, on a placement, or in a care setting.
Their stories showed how mental health, dignity, and job security can erode when systems or people in power do not understand lived realities.
Their stories showed how mental health, dignity, and job security can erode when systems or people in power do not understand lived realities.
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Last year, we heard from people who had been the only racialised person in a room, on a placement, or in a care setting.
Their stories showed how mental health, dignity, and job security can erode when systems or people in power do not understand lived realities.
Their stories showed how mental health, dignity, and job security can erode when systems or people in power do not understand lived realities.
We also notice one thing that keeps coming out of our discussions from the Autistic Adult Support Fund consultation is just how much support for Autistic individuals lacks racial equality.
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
We also notice one thing that keeps coming out of our discussions from the Autistic Adult Support Fund consultation is just how much support for Autistic individuals lacks racial equality.
This community conversation was made possible through the funding given by The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland
#AutisticVoices #InclusiveTraining #Awareness #Community #Reflection #MakeChange
#ChallengingNormal
#AutisticVoices #InclusiveTraining #Awareness #Community #Reflection #MakeChange
#ChallengingNormal
January 16, 2026 at 2:43 PM
This community conversation was made possible through the funding given by The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland
#AutisticVoices #InclusiveTraining #Awareness #Community #Reflection #MakeChange
#ChallengingNormal
#AutisticVoices #InclusiveTraining #Awareness #Community #Reflection #MakeChange
#ChallengingNormal
It was incredibly heartening to see the impact and reminded me why these conversations matter. I’m so grateful to everyone who engaged so openly and honestly.
What conversations do you think we need to have more of?
What conversations do you think we need to have more of?
January 16, 2026 at 2:43 PM
It was incredibly heartening to see the impact and reminded me why these conversations matter. I’m so grateful to everyone who engaged so openly and honestly.
What conversations do you think we need to have more of?
What conversations do you think we need to have more of?
Hearing how much the session resonated really stayed with me. Some highlights:
• A change in their perceptions of autism
• Exploring what we often call ‘normal’
• Moments of empathy and self-reflection
• Challenging the language we use
• And most of all, people want more
• A change in their perceptions of autism
• Exploring what we often call ‘normal’
• Moments of empathy and self-reflection
• Challenging the language we use
• And most of all, people want more
January 16, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Hearing how much the session resonated really stayed with me. Some highlights:
• A change in their perceptions of autism
• Exploring what we often call ‘normal’
• Moments of empathy and self-reflection
• Challenging the language we use
• And most of all, people want more
• A change in their perceptions of autism
• Exploring what we often call ‘normal’
• Moments of empathy and self-reflection
• Challenging the language we use
• And most of all, people want more
My Barbie often lost a shoe, had clothes on back to front (I still accidently wear cloths inside out like today!) and loved her Vespa and Jeep. Barbie was autistic then too.
~ @thendeducator.bsky.social
~ @thendeducator.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 4:09 PM
My Barbie often lost a shoe, had clothes on back to front (I still accidently wear cloths inside out like today!) and loved her Vespa and Jeep. Barbie was autistic then too.
~ @thendeducator.bsky.social
~ @thendeducator.bsky.social
We had one SEMA member telling us how how plastic dolls freak them out and never played with them as a child. So there is that! 👇🧵
January 14, 2026 at 4:09 PM
We had one SEMA member telling us how how plastic dolls freak them out and never played with them as a child. So there is that! 👇🧵
Even in Scotland, healthcare practitioners need anti-racism training on how to assess, treat and support racialised autistics.
In the end, I wanted to add, dolls aren't everyone's cup of tea. 👇🧵
In the end, I wanted to add, dolls aren't everyone's cup of tea. 👇🧵
January 14, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Even in Scotland, healthcare practitioners need anti-racism training on how to assess, treat and support racialised autistics.
In the end, I wanted to add, dolls aren't everyone's cup of tea. 👇🧵
In the end, I wanted to add, dolls aren't everyone's cup of tea. 👇🧵
About consulting racialised people about this model, I am not sure what happened there, but I am glad they chose her to be non-white. This is after me being told last week that "there is no such thing as autism back home". 👇🧵
January 14, 2026 at 4:09 PM
About consulting racialised people about this model, I am not sure what happened there, but I am glad they chose her to be non-white. This is after me being told last week that "there is no such thing as autism back home". 👇🧵
I disagree, the autistic Barbie represented only high support needs autistics. Mattel did well representing me, a late diagnosed south Asian female. They also made me feel connected to other autistics who use AAC devices & apps full time, removing the mislabeling of 'mildly' & 'severely' autistic 👇🧵
January 14, 2026 at 4:09 PM
I disagree, the autistic Barbie represented only high support needs autistics. Mattel did well representing me, a late diagnosed south Asian female. They also made me feel connected to other autistics who use AAC devices & apps full time, removing the mislabeling of 'mildly' & 'severely' autistic 👇🧵
I agree, accessories should be available to every Barbie, not just one specific model. Just like in real life we should have reasonable adjustments & flexible care for all and not just those that are seen or heard. But the flappy hands & arms and the slightly shifted gaze isn't an add on accessory👇🧵
January 14, 2026 at 4:09 PM
I agree, accessories should be available to every Barbie, not just one specific model. Just like in real life we should have reasonable adjustments & flexible care for all and not just those that are seen or heard. But the flappy hands & arms and the slightly shifted gaze isn't an add on accessory👇🧵