George Watts

@autgeek.bsky.social

Autistic self-advocate, PhD student, parent to autistic kids. Happily obsessed with all things autistic. They/she.

On 29th July, I'll be joining @katefoxwriter75.bsky.social and @autgeek.bsky.social for a free GR0VE event for neurodivergent young people. We'll be talking about our research into neurodiversity-affirming spaces and taking questions from attendees. More information: www.gr0ve.org/research-eve...

GROVE Research Event -

GROVE offers specialist Autistic-led % mentoring, peer groups and our BEING ME programme to support Autistic children and young people’s identity, self-esteem and well-being.

gr0ve.org

Would you like to contribute to a free booklet for Autistic young people? All messages will come from Autistic people. If you are not Autistic but are the caregiver of an Autistic child who would like to contribute, that’s fine - you’re welcome to help them share their message. lnkd.in/djmpg8WS

image of a child pointing towards the words 'want to contribute'

Do you know any autistic adults based near Dunfermline? If so then I need your help! I need a few more participants to join my study which is starting next week! Please share this poster with anyone who might be interested Feel free to email me with any questions at georgina.n.watts@durham.ac.uk

Can you help us?
We are looking for participants to attend an autistic social group and then be interviewed about their experience of the group
We are looking for people who:
Are autistic
Are aged 18 or over
Are able to understand and communicate in English (using either mouth words or AAC) 
You will be asked to:
Attend an autistic-run social group with 9 other autistic people for a total of 6 sessions.
At the end of Session 2 and Session 6 you will be asked to complete a simple diagram to show us which people (if any) you enjoyed spending time with in the group
Within two weeks of the final session you will be interviewed about your experiences of the group
The group will be held at Scottish Autism's Blue Central support base in Dunfermline, KY11 8US.
It will take place at 6.30-8 pm on Wednesday evenings on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th of May and the 11th and 18th of June
We will work with you to make taking part as accessible as possible for all group members
You will receive a £30 voucher for completing the interview.
This research is being conducted by George Watts, an autistic PhD researcher at Durham University. The research team includes a mix of autistic and non-autistic researchers from the University of Durham, University of Edinburgh and Scottish Autism. 
For more information please email georgina.n.watts@durham.ac.uk

I was out with my dog earlier and someone walking towards us said enthusiastically to their dog "look it's a lovely collie!" and then as they passed they said "Hello Collie-wobble!" to my dog (who is indeed a collie) while completely ignoring me. I like this stranger a lot, it made my day.

Being autistic often feels like being the kid in The Emperor's New Clothes; people don't like it if you point out the obvious and it's very confusing that everyone insists on pretending the obvious isn't true just to maintain expected social conventions

I’m a non-binary Autistic classically trained chef and author! I wrote a food aversion acceptance cookbook and guide titled COLOR TASTE TEXTURE! It’s all about learning how to make food work to your needs, for all ages and all levels of cooking ability (even those who’ve never cooked before).

Color Taste Texture by Matthew Broberg-Moffitt: 9780593538593 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

An accessible family cookbook that offers solutions rather than tricks to empower the food-averse, autistic, and picky eater, with 46 recipes. This much-needed cookbook combines tips and techniques.....

penguinrandomhouse.com

Important announcement: My mother has just informed me that there are small buses running in our local area which do not have bells any to let the driver know when people want to get off. One enterprising driver has solved this problem by installing rubber chickens for people to squeeze instead!

Finally on train home. Giving off my best 'please leave me alone or I might cry or bite you' vibes. Contemplating how people likely perceive me as having low support needs when I'm standing up there speaking about my research but they don't see me at times like now.

My kids to their therapists in 20 years time: "... and every time there was a big storm they would tell us the same story about The Great Storm of '87 and force us to listen to 'John Kettley is a Weatherman', I wasn't born until 2018 but I still have nightmares about Michael Fish 😭😭😭"

I have now had emails from school, uni, an after school activity club and even my local village hall saying everything planned for tomorrow is cancelled due to the severe weather warning. Tomorrow is officially a pyjama day. Let's hope the power isn't down for too long this time.

Just realised what I remind myself of. I'm sick in bed and croakily trying to call my eldest in the hope I might get made a cuppa - I sound exactly like the mother in law in Allo Allo: "Will nobody hear the cries of a poor old woman?!"