Open Society

"If we try and make eye contact, it can distract us from what is being said because of how horrible it can feel and the effort involved.”

The ICARS Report England: The ICARS Report England documents the experiences of 560 English children. It exposes an educational system which has failed children, especially those receiving SEND ser…

Early-career researchers (ECRs) are among the most creative, talented, and energetic researchers, and they play an important role in knowledge production and pushing scientific boundaries. Recent debates have implied that many early-career autism researchers are compelled to shift their areas of focus within autism research as a consequence of their work being scrutinized by the autistic and autism communities. In this Perspective, I draw on my own experience as an early-career autism researcher having recently pivoted my research focus to become more aligned with community priorities. I reflect on whether these putative shifts in research direction are, indeed, a tragedy, as has previously been suggested, or, in fact, an opportunity for autism researchers. I argue that pivoting in research is a demonstration of science adapting to the ever-evolving needs in society and changes in our understanding of neurodiversity, neurodivergence, and research methods. While disagreements between the autistic, autism, and research communities may well feel uncomfortable, these tensions also present an opportunity for us—as non-autistic autism researchers—to reflect and to act toward building trust with the community. I recommend three areas for reflections: the purpose of our research, our position of power, and the epistemic limits of our academic expertise. I end by encouraging ECRs to consider taking actions, however small, to lead the charge in improving practices in autism research.

Esperanza Project is a green magazine for the Americas

The puzzle piece is the most commonly recognized symbol for autism awareness. But many people are unaware of it’s ableist history. On World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd) , many neurotypica…

A new coalition of activists has formed to fight for disability justice in 14 states.

Disability justice in America starts in the South, home to one-third of all disabled people in the nation.

Pavilion is the leading provider of professional development products for staff in the health, social care, mental health and learning disability sectors.

A school in Illinois is showing the potential of Oregon's gender-neutral dress code model.

Have you ever looked through a school’s dress code policy and then pictured the type of student that said policy would affect? Of course…

The only way ABA knows how to “train” a child, to “motivate” them..is to negate their needs or take away their joy.

Devon Price's 'Unmasking Autism' advocates for a radical solution that amounts to common sense: Autistic adults should feel free to be themselves.

Research supports what teachers intuitively understand: that students ask fewer questions the longer they remain in school and engagement steadily declines over time. “Promoting curiosity in children, especially those from environments of economic disadvantage, may be an important, underrecognized way to address the achievement gap. Promoting curiosity is a foundation for early learning that we should be emphasizing more when we look at academic achievement”. (Chris read) At the same time, rates of depression and anxiety have steadily increased to become among the most diagnosed mental health disorders in children. Kids who feel isolated from school and their community frequently drop out turn to self-harm and self-medication through alcohol and drugs. Purpose-finding, on the other hand, has been linked to prosocial outcomes and healthier lifestyles, and is inherently tied to positive identity and self-worth. By directly participating in building a better society and reflecting on the experience, students gain valuable insight into their identity in relation to the world around them. Excerpt from the full documentary, 100 Seconds to Midnight: The Need for a New Human-Centered Education, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf3-sZp2vUk&ab_channel=HumanRestorationProject ----------------------------------------------- Learn more about our free resources, podcast, writings, and more at https://www.humanrestorationproject.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumResPro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humanrestorationproject/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humrespro/ Want a HUMANIZE EDUCATION shirt? https://www.rayguncustom.com/collections/human-restoration-project Human Restoration Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit centered on enabling human-centered schools through progressive pedagogy. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite player at "Human Restoration Project."

Abrome  is a Self-Directed Education (SDE) community in Austin, TX, that is now in its fourth year. As Facilitators (adult staff members), we regularly critique our approach to interacting with Learners and building community, as well as how the culture of Abrome is evolving. It was through

It’s easier than you think to make your classroom welcoming and accessible to students with autism and other diagnoses.

The actual effect of the myth of meritocracy, which is used to normalise and rationalise head to head competition, is a consistent bias to over-represent capabilities, and to actively avoid thinkin…

This report provides analysis about neurodivergence and neurodiversity for the national security community and steps to achieve neurodiverse inclusivity. The authors describe the benefits that people with neurodivergence bring to national security; challenges in recruiting, working with, and managing a neurodiverse workforce; and barriers in national security workplaces that prevent agencies from realizing the full benefits of neurodiversity.

The author describes his experiences with and without neurodiverse accommodations, recounting personal experiences in interviews, illustrating why neurodiverse accommodation is a must for neurodiverse hiring and interviewing.

Memory of methyl marks enables epigenetic inheritance down generations.

Eight weeks after the death of Karen Berg’s son, Henry, she’s fighting a flood of anti-transgender bills in the Kentucky Senate

Health service managers in south-west England say new restrictions are needed because of a huge rise in waiting lists

What this Washington reporter with autism wants you to understand.

Those who follow recipes want to make the dish. Those who stay neutral about this fact want it made for them.

After the Families Belong Together protests this past weekend, we talk to Greek media scholar Alexandra Boutopoulou on the widely used phrase, "They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds," and its poetic origins.

Strengths-based approaches to autism are increasing in research and clinical practice. Such approaches suggest facilitating autistic people to increase the use ...

Horrified by the misinformation peddled by MAGA truthers? You should be just as concerned about grievance-based autism parent orgs.

Dearest Colleagues, A couple of major academic publishers have recently approached me about putting together a Neuroqueer Theory anthology. I’ve taken this as a good indicator that the time is ripe for such a thing—though I’ve decided to publish it through the worker-owned indie publishing collective Autonomous Press (of which I’m a founding member), because