AI Roundup: The Bad, the Ugly, and the Pretty Cool
Useful links to pieces of the web that make differing and complementary sense of the threat and promise of AI.
Open Society
Finding the Flex
Flourishing Means Learning How Not to Fit In
One of the most important things which adults and young people tell me about is the process of working out how to make a situation work for them. It’s a process of knowing yourself and how you work best, and then finding the flexibilities in your environment which you can use.
The more flexible an environment is, the more possible this becomes. The better a person knows themselves, the more they can do it. As they practice, they are able to see the possibilities, to work out where the flex is – and therefore, the better they can find a way to do the things which are important to them.
They find the flex, and often they feel bad about it. Other adults tell them that they are spoiling their child, or coddling them, and they’ll never learn to cope if someone is always there to help. They say that they are avoiding, and they’ll get more anxious as result. We see conforming to the expectations of the environment as something to aim for. We think that the environment should be rigid and the child flexible, and we blame them if they aren’t.
‘Does it have to be this way?’ ‘Why?’
Our children can learn to find the flex, but only if we make it possible for them. It’s a skill which needs practice. Just as parents learn how to do it when their children require it, children learn by seeing that it’s possible.
They can’t do it if there’s no potential for change. They can’t do it if their only option is to fit in.
They learn when we give them lots of opportunities to be in flexible environments, where they can make decisions which matter. Lots of chances to say no, and then to dip a toe in and say ‘maybe yes’. Lots of opportunities to sit on the side lines until they want to join in (or decide it’s not for them). And places where knowing that you need a break is valued just as much as driving yourself on.
Knowing themselves is the most valuable gift we can give our children. Knowing their strengths and what makes them tick, and knowing how to see the flex in a situation. Finding the ways in which it will work for them, and feeling good about doing so.
Our children won’t thrive because they have learnt to fit in. They’ll flourish because they have learnt not to.
AKILAH: All about intergenerationality (@fareofthefreechild) • Instagram photos and videos
152 likes, 2 comments - fareofthefreechild on July 26, 2023: "We talk about raising free people, unschooling, deschooling and all the other language we have come to know through this podcast, but do ..."
Unschooling As A Perfect Fit For Neurodiverse Families
School doesn’t suit your neurodiverse children or your family. It is common to find children that are resistant to the system which micro manages their every move, whilst other’s witness their chil…
Late Night Learning
Learning happens when it happens, and often late at night.
Tree Climbing and Real Life Learning
-How the joy of climbing trees provides optimal conditions for quality learning- My children have spent many hours climbing trees in local woodland. There was a time when if I couldn’t see one of t…
Finding Freedom and Happiness Through Unschooling with Jae Williams | Parenting Decolonized
Unschooling Philosophy | Joyfully Rejoycing
What is the unschooling philosophy? How is it different from radical unschooling? How does following a philosophy impact learning and parenting?
The Right To Leave
What do we lose when we oblige our young people to participate?
A Survey of Grown Unschoolers I: Overview of Findings
Seventy-five unschooled adults report on their childhood and adult experiences.
The Origin of the Modern School System — Ana Lorena Fabrega
When I left the classroom about three years ago I started questioning the origins of our current education system. How is it that almost every industry has changed over the past 100 years except for education ? I did my research and came to some interesting conclusions. Contrary to what you’ve
When adults don’t measure the learning…
Something I’ve noticed over the years is that even when other adults can appreciate the depth of a self-directed child’s learning, they can rarely hold back their questions about how th…
Philosophy of psychiatry webinar : Robert Chapman talk
On Neurodivergent Power
An Interview w/ Robert Chapman on Living in an Empire of Normality
neurodivergent marxism, let's gooooo
Is this really part of Unschooling?
Options are central to succesful unschooling
Why "PDA Profile of ASD"/ "Persistent Drive for Autonomy” (PDA) are intrinsically ableist terms?
TRIGGER WARNING.Filicide, suicide, and preventable deaths of autistic persons are discussed in the video on slides: 12,13, 14, 38, & 41.Most of the material ...
Purim's Call to Unmask | Celebrating Authenticity and Inclusion in the Autistic and Disabled Communities — The #ActuallyAutistic Coach
Purim, a festival marked by its vibrant traditions, joyous celebration, and the reading of Megillat Esther (a handwritten scroll telling the story) , stands as a compelling invitation for deep reflection on hidden identities, bravery, and the value of inclusion for the Jewish community and beyond.
Noam Chomsky - Objectivity
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lobjJYXTJpQ
Why These Cities Are Not Sending Police to Some 911 Calls
A new generation of first responders is handling mental health calls and other emergencies in cities across the U.S.
People experiencing mental or behavioral health crises and addiction have often been subject to police use of force, arrest and incarceration.
Alternative responder programs are closely related strategies in which social workers or behavioral health specialists show up to calls instead of police officers. These teams only respond to calls with a low probability of violence, and many engage in proactive work as well, trying to connect people with behavioral health challenges to services outside the context of a crisis.
Large Grocers Took Advantage of Pandemic Supply Chain Disruptions, F.T.C. Finds
A report found that large firms pressured suppliers to favor them over competitors. It also concluded that some retailers “seem to have used rising costs as an opportunity to further hike prices.”
History of ANI
Smiling synchronization predicts interaction enjoyment in peer dyads of autistic and neurotypical youth - Kathryn A McNaughton, Alexandra Moss, Heather A Yarger, Elizabeth Redcay, 2024
Autistic youth often experience challenges in interactions with neurotypical peers. One factor that may influence successful interactions with peers is interper...
“Retirement Is One Hell of a Change”: Autistic People's Experiences of Retiring | Autism in Adulthood
Background: Limited research has examined autistic people's experiences of aging. Although the significance of retirement in the context of aging has been highlighted by autistic people themselves, there is a dearth of research in this regard, with only one study focusing on the retirement experiences of one autistic man. Methods: In this study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with eight older autistic people (mean age = 63 years, range = 56–70 years) who had retired or semi-retired in the past 10 years, and four who were planning to retire in the next 5 years. We aimed to generate some of the first insights regarding autistic people's retirement experiences. We analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Experiences were diverse. Challenges in retirement planning and adjustment were reported by some, whereas others viewed retirement as a positive respite from challenging work environments. The availability of more leisure time was appreciated by some, whereas others encountered ongoing responsibilities and obstacles hindering desired activities. A common theme was the inadequate support available for autistic people during retirement. Concerns about the aging process, including concerns about health decline and the possibility of entering residential care, were also common. Conclusion: Future research should examine the suitability of residential care for older autistic adults, consider alternative autistic-led group living arrangements, and explore avenues for improved support during and after the retirement transition.
San Diego's ambulance takeover is making for faster service, fewer violations. But why are there more ambulance calls?
The possible financial benefits remain uncertain, and officials say more data is needed as they near the halfway point of a one-year experiment
Happiness for everyone: working with a disability at Automattic
Have you ever wondered whether you’d ever find a job that was the right fit? Where you’d be able to open your computer and, instead of dread, unhappiness, and a sense of being weighed down, feeling…
Plagiarism and the Death of the Video Essay
Practice critical thinking and stay informed on breaking news by subscribing through my link https://ground.news/zoebee to receive 30% off the Vantage Subscr...
Sensory-inclusive spaces for autistic people: We need to build the evidence base - Catherine Manning, Gemma Williams, Keren MacLennan, 2023
Welcome to the Real World: Part 2
Embracing your identity and the superpower of self-acceptance in The Matrix!
Neuroqueer Learning Spaces
…intentionally liberating oneself from the culturally ingrained and enforced performance of neuronormativity can be thought of as neuroqueering. Neuroqueer Heresies: Notes on the Neurodiversity Paradigm, Autistic Empowerment, and Postnormal Possibilities Autistic Realms and Stimpunks are excited to announce that we are collaborating on a project: Neuroqueer Learning Spaces. Follow our white rabbit, which is a symbol of curiosity, wonder, […]
Neuroqueering Learning Spaces: an exploration
“Intentionally liberating oneself from the culturally ingrained and enforced performance of neuronormativity can be thought of as neuroqueering” Walker, 2021 neuronormativity = a set of norms, standards, expectations and ideals that centre a particular way of functioning as the ‘right way’ to be neuroqueer = subvert, defy, disrupt, liberate oneself or a space from neuronormativity neuroqueering = […]