I recently delivered training to the wonderful Herne Hill School as part of their preparation for stating the autumn term and welcoming existing and new children back after the summer holidays. This prompted me to think about my own experiences of school as a very small child some 50 years ago, when there was little to no awareness of autistic people like myself, and how this impacted on me.

I had such an autism-affirming experience with a healthcare professional yesterday, and it's really lifted me psychologically..but unfortunately this is not yet the 'norm' in my experience and those of many other speaking autistic adults without a learning disability.

Over the years, I've come to absolutely dread April and World Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month. 

A question I see asked, and has been asked of me often, is 'how valid is a self-diagnosis'? - especially from employers.

 I've recently seen a move away from specialist (condition-specific) training towards general 'neurodiversity'* training and, like many other autism advocates and specialists, I'm concerned.

Understandably my community are again dismayed, and angry, at the purported intentions of Gregg Wallace's legal team to disclose that he is likely autistic and that this accounts for his unacceptable behaviour and not 'understanding' when he is crossing the line.

I've been thinking about the outcomes associated with masking a lot recently, it's a hot topic in the neurodiversity community as always.