Must have missed this one at the time but seeing as there's a protest in  Parliament Square on Friday, 22 May I thought I'd mention the fact that,  according to new Ofsted guidance, Autistic children as more likely be extremists.   Some extremist Autists yesterday.   First mentioned in a series of 2023 and 2024 training materials for Ofsted inspectors, it seems that Ofsted believes that autistic people are more susceptible to becoming terrorists or extremists because of their ‘special interests’. One of the Ofsted trainings on Prevent indicates that the trainer should tell school inspectors:  ‘Children and young people with Autism are at increased risk of being susceptible to extremism. This is because they are more likely to develop special interests.’  The training does not explain this assertion but does go on to claim: ‘Children with autism are more likely to experience social isolation and so use the internet to find friends. They trust the info...

 It's been a fair few years since my dulcet tones graced your airwaves  but it looks (sounds?) like I may be back on Radio Scotland in the next month - but not alas playing a mix of obscure Eurohorror tracks (tho' that might happen if enough folk ask for it).   The BBC are holding a Caring Matters Week with a variety of programmes and interviews which may, in fact, feature me ranting excitingly - and angrily - about various issues around and affecting carers. Including housing support no doubt.  First up is the recording of  the Caring Matters live roadshow next week - now what to wear for radio? - with (hopefully) a few interviews to follow. Updates to follow.    

 From Damian Milton because words matter.  

  It's been another packed year here at Autastic Towers and as 2025 grinds to a crashing halt it's time for a review of the highs and lows of the year with a special mention to those who deserve extra credit. Oh and massive amounts of piss-taking and slagging for those who deserve it.  Warning tho' there'll probably be some time jumps (a bit like Doctor Who when it was good) as some of the stuff is still either ongoing or linked, also expect heady amounts of swearing. And slight sarcasm.  As a plus point it'll be much shorter than usual this year (probably) as we've gone from places like Social Work and housing getting in touch with excuses as to why they haven't helped yet to just totally blanking us and leaving us to just struggle on our own, tho' that does give me an excuse to concentrate on the big picture and see how society treated us as a whole. Anyway, enjoy. As seems to be the norm now, I spent most of January  (still) coping with my (stress...

  ‘Her baby in her placenta’.    'Circumcision causes Autism'.    'Paracetamol!'    'Something, something wrestling bears'.      Thank you my American cousins for giving us the gravel-throated comedy genius that is RFK jr.    

 ...to come out of the whole Trump/RFK jr. Autism debacle it's that more people outside our little community are now aware of the work of Grunya Sukhareva and Eugen Bleuler so swings and roundabouts really.   And with that in mind I'm off to top up my Autism. Goodnight.