Raising the autistic voice. Sharing autistic experience. Contemplating inclusivity. #Autism #ActuallyAutistic
Accessing home education has been a lifeline for my family. Being able to home educate saved my children's mental health. I honestly dread to think what may have happened to them should home education not have been an option. Having to remain in a school environment would have caused them irreversible harm. They didn't drop … Continue reading Home Education, Autistic Children and the Misnomer of Abuse: my thoughts …
Is there such a thing as a truly neuro-accessible, recognised qualification or exam pathway? If there is a more accessible pathway, I haven't discovered it. It seems to me that qualification accessibility is based upon issuing a range of reasonable adjustments for exam conditions and relying on individual students to assimilate, using their best endeavours. … Continue reading Exam Equity and Neurodivergence
The only way I managed to avoid becoming extremely unwell during the eight years I faced regular blame (due to my Local Authority’s lack of appropriate understanding and provision for my child), was to contextualise my experience.Knowing that it wasn't just me facing blame, instead of receiving appropriate provisions of support, enabled me to trust … Continue reading The Cycle of Parent-Carer Blame and Public Services for Autistic Children
As an autistic mother, my love for my children is greater than the pain of masking or tolerating the things that are intolerable for me. And this is one of many issues I wish professionals working with my (also autistic) children would grasp - that in some ways I am the same as any other … Continue reading Autistic parenting and ‘pushing on through’.
As autistic parents to autistic children, how can we give informed consent if information is not delivered to us explicitly by professionals? I have been considering the numerous occasions whereby I either did not realise my consent was being sought by 'SEND' professionals or even that information was intended for me, because direct and explicit … Continue reading Seeking consent from autistic parents …
I have noticed how autistic parents are often treated differently by professionals involved with their autistic children. Autistic ways of being can be misinterpreted and viewed through the lens of safeguarding instead of neurodivergence. Responses to the 2022 survey 'Parental Blame and the PDA Profile of Autism' (2023, Running and Jata-Hall) point to some autism-based … Continue reading 13 ways in which being autistic adds value to my parenting.
My child’s EOTAS (education otherwise than at school) provision took over seven years to acquire. Seven years filled with frustration, trauma and distress; battling with a system that should have supported my child, but instead blamed him (and me) for being autistic. Now that we have a semblance of peace and an opportunity to thrive, … Continue reading Our route to ‘EOTAS’ (Education Other Than At School)
Introducing: The Experiences of Domestic Abuse Survivors -Parental Blame and the PDA Profile of Autism For those parent-carers who have been in abusive, intimate relationships, navigating systems of SEND can bring about particular challenges. Encountering blame as a parent-carer whilst advocating the needs of autistic children can be uniquely impactful for those parent-carers who have … Continue reading Parental blame, domestic abuse and autism…
There is a large banner in the hospital's most prominent entrance, boasting how accessible and inclusive the NHS Trust is for disabled people. Ironically, I only noticed this on my eventual discharge - after five very long and tortuous nights. I entered the hospital via Accident and Emergency, in a flurry of paramedics and gas … Continue reading Autistic Hospital Experience: needlessly chaotic care.
Which set of needs are easier to have met? My needs as a carer, or my needs as an autistic adult? Is this a trick question? The interactions I have with "services" and organisations directly affect my well-being and daily functioning. Summoning up the energy to verbally communicate with strangers requires extensive effort for me. … Continue reading Autistic Needs VS Carer’s Needs – are they in opposition?
The-Aut-Vocate by Alice Running 