It popped up in my (Facebook) memories today that it's been exactly 2 years since the magnificent Paul Wady invited me to do 'a wee turn' (which I think is the professional term) during his Eccentrics Unite! Fringe show with my take on Autism and dating as a cult movie fan. They do say write what you know and let's be fair that's all I do know. Well  that and how to hold a pencil.   The actual gig was edited for timing reasons/my rambling ways so it was fairly short 'n' snappy which was unusual for me but as far as I recall it seemed to go down OK. I mean there were no walk-outs but I did make a man visibly uncomfortable with the sheer Autistic intensity of my love for the films of 1982. This has been a dream of mine for years if I'm honest. Which I always am obviously seeing as Autistics are incapable of lying. Probably.  So (any excuse) here to celebrate this monumental cultural event I present the - slightly - longer version of my Fringe debut. As a...

  Nothing says inclusive education like removing the chairs used by disabled students and their support workers and replacing them with a self-congratulatory poster!  Well played City of Glasgow College.  

Can't believe that's been a year since our (award winning) little film AUTISM PLAYS ITSELF had its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival so felt it was only right to reshare it for those who hadn't seen it (or wanted to watch it again),  suffice to say it would be an understatement to say that this is one of the pieces of work I'm most proud of.           And don't forget that you can actually listen to a version of it on the Radio 4 series Short Cuts  too.       A film shot in 1957 in at the Maudsley Hospital, London, captures the movements and behaviour of children under observation for atypical behaviour. In the present day, three autistic respondents watch the footage, bringing new insightful interpretations of the children’s behaviour as they explore the sparse environment of the clinic. Through speculation and identification, with wit and audacity, the responses forge a new soundtrack from an autistic point of vie...

Well that's the summer holidays almost over and we're prepping for the new term here which is always exciting. I'd say it's been an enjoyably lazy 12 weeks but the whole thing seems to have been taken up by hospital appointments, various meetings and attempts to organise meetings so frankly I'm knackered! Must be old age.  Anyway as regular(?) readers will know, Cass isn't attending this year as we're gonna be doing activities and the like with him ourselves ( you can read about it here ) but the girls are back at college on 2 separate courses that this year are on totally different days.   "Sorry the disability officer can't see you today....she's gone missing!"   This is the first time in 3 years that this has happened so from next week we'll be juggling taking the girls to and from college, one on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and t'other on Monday, Thursday and Friday whilst doing stuff with Cass and trying to shop, clean and (h...

 Got Grok to describe me over on X...Guess I'll take it.  

  Just because  (and if anyone cares) my eight favourite books for Book Lovers Day. Happy reading!     And as an added treat here's the worlds greatest writer reading from the worlds greatest book.   You're welcome.    

  Been listening to Michael Blastland's Autism Curve series on Radio 4 and not sure how I feel, partly cos I don't like being talked about whilst trying to sleep. Full review to follow.  As an aside when it comes to podcasts in an Autism vein, I've noticed that those hosted by Autistic people (for example Robyn Steward and Jamie Knight's brilliant 1800 Seconds on Autism ) are deemed to be of niche interest and only for us whereas those podcasts aimed at 'the general public' or those with Autistic kids/relatives etc. (as The Autism Curve seems to be) are all hosted by neurotypical parents - usually dads - almost as if their 'Autism journey' makes them more suitable - or worthy - to talk about Autism to the 'not we'.    Hopefully someone will prove me wrong.