Dr Becky Wood
@thewoodbug.bsky.social
Senior lecturer, autism researcher. Reader, writer, radio listener, swimmer and nature lover. Arts buff. Dislikes: cronyism. Fan of The Archers 🙂
Did you know that @autismspectrumnews.bsky.social has an entire issue dedicated to the nonspeaking autistic people who, for too long, “have been underestimated, misunderstood, and denied the tools and opportunities they need to communicate”? autismspectrumnews.org/asn-summer-2... #neurodiversity
ASN Summer 2026 Issue
“Giving Voice to Nonspeakers: Communication, Advocacy, and Inclusion Across Life”
autismspectrumnews.org
If you can't think of what to do in the heat 🥵 - do consider attending our webinar 4 - 6.30pm ➡️today⬅️on multi-modal communication, particularly in relation to autism. Free to attend, online, bring a cool drink 🍹@uofgsocsci.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-i-comm...
#TheArchers The idea that Kate - whose idea of hard work is lounging in a yurt listening to whale music - would somehow make a good chambermaid, is laughable. Or that she would seguey from business owner to skivvy without complaint. I doubt she ever makes the bed at home 😝
📢 The How I Communicate project will be holding an online webinar focusing on supporting & valuing the communication of minimally/non-speaking autistic young people 🙌 ➡️ 25th June, 4 - 7pm ➡️ Free ⬇️ Register below
Sad news. Also played Robin Fairbrother in #TheArchers (in which he appeared only occasionally but brilliantly, I thought). Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso actor, dies aged 72 www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Ted Lasso actor, dies aged 72
British actor starred on the West End before finding international fame in the 90s on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
theguardian.com
📢 The How I Communicate project will be holding an online webinar focusing on supporting & valuing the communication of minimally/non-speaking autistic young people 🙌 ➡️ 25th June, 4 - 7pm ➡️ Free ⬇️ Register below
#TheArchers Utterly clueless of Helen to ask Akram about doing extra work in the dairy when she’s just crushed his care farm plans 😠 I genuinely thought she was going to make a positive suggestion about his idea 🙁
There’s so much ageism in #TheArchers at the moment - Carol, Bert, Brian - all being treated like they are devoid of agency 🤷♀️
How to motivate autistic students: Let them access their strongly held interests! School staff won't need to prompt them much—or even at all, plus the students will be more motivated, independent, & relaxed than when given repetitive tasks. By @thewoodbug.bsky.social: woodbug.blog/2019/03/27/a...
Autistic children and intense interests: the key to their educational inclusion?
Autistic children and adults are often described as ‘obsessive’ or as having ‘narrow’, ‘restricted’ or ‘circumscribed’ interests. And when this trait…
woodbug.blog
➡️ What are the experiences, strengths & needs of autistic teachers? ➡️ How should we re-think the teacher role to be neurodiversity-inclusive? Summary of research from the Autistic School Staff Project, with links to open access resources 👇🏻 #Autres
The Conversation UK@uk.theconversation.com · 4mo agoAutistic teachers felt they were making a significant contribution to supporting inclusion in school.
➡️ What are the experiences, strengths & needs of autistic teachers? ➡️ How should we re-think the teacher role to be neurodiversity-inclusive? Summary of research from the Autistic School Staff Project, with links to open access resources 👇🏻 #Autres
The Conversation UK@uk.theconversation.com · 4mo agoAutistic teachers felt they were making a significant contribution to supporting inclusion in school.
📝 Our new mixed-methods paper exploring retirement experiences in autistic populations is now out in @journalautism.bsky.social, open access: doi.org/10.1177/1362.... Here are some key findings ⬇️ #AutRes 1/x
‘A New Pace of Life’: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Retirement Plans, Preparations and Experiences in Middle-Aged and Older Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults - Zuzanna Kowalczyk, Ahna Huwaida Ahmad Fa...
Retirement is a major life change affecting routines, finances and wellbeing. Autistic adults may face extra challenges during this transition due to employment...
doi.org
Autistic teachers felt they were making a significant contribution to supporting inclusion in school.
Learning from autistic teachers could change schools for the better
Autistic teachers felt they were making a significant contribution to supporting inclusion in school.
tcnv.link
Just published, with powerful writing by lead author Dr Jason Lang, our article about core focus of the Neurodiversity in Scottish Schools project. What do neurodivergent young people, school staff, parents & policy-makers think about inclusion? Open access 👇 journals.uclpress.co.uk/lre/article/...
Ahead of World Autism Acceptance Day* - I've published an article in The Conversation summarising some key points from our research into autistic teachers 👇 Including barriers, strengths & suggestions for better futures. *If that's still a thing 🙂 theconversation.com/learning-fro...
Learning from autistic teachers could change schools for the better
Autistic teachers felt they were making a significant contribution to supporting inclusion in school.
theconversation.com
Well we do hear about neurodivergent teachers, but not enough. Link to our website 👇🏻 autisticschoolstaffproject.com www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
We need to talk about the neurodivergent teachers in our schools
There must be plenty of teachers who are neurodivergent, but we never hear about them, says one former head who has ADHD. Are they getting the support they need in schools?
tes.com
A real mishmash of research, factoids and blatant prejudice. A report about how families bring up their children without asking a single family for their view. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Teachers are being forced to parent children as Britain f...
As more pupils join reception lacking motor, speech and hygiene skills, charity calls for urgent action to avert an educational crisis
observer.co.uk
We are pleased to see the positive response to our Autistic Ramadan E-book! We would like to thank our service users for the learning, our partner organisations and fellow Autistic advocates for the continued love and support over the years & the team who put this together. 🧵👇
She never lived to see this moment, but it’s worth remembering that none of this would have happened without Virginia Giuffre. She had the courage to speak out against power and privilege when it was just her word against Andrew’s. Thanks to her, justice & accountability may finally have its day.
Excellent commentary by Prof. Vikram Jaswal & colleagues on the need for better thinking and research in relation to assisted typing methods for non-speaking autistic people 👏 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Why We Need to Study Assisted Methods to Teach Typing to Nonspeaking Autistic People
At least one third of autistic people have limited or no speech. Most nonspeaking autistic people are never provided alternatives that would enable the full range of expression that speech allows, si...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
#TheArchers Message on the other place that Eric Allan, who played Bert Fry for 25 years, has died. Loved Bert! 🫶
Very much enjoying reading 'Understanding Others in a Neurodiverse World' by Dr Gemma Williams. Scholarly but written in an accessible and conversational style. Some good important arguments, underpinned by research, on autism and communication. 🙌🏻
Another column from Marina Hyde in which she urges everyone to focus on the real Epstein scandal - the mass abuse of women by powerful men. Spot on. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
So the Epstein scandal is about politics? Silly me for thinking it’s about the mass abuse of women and girls | Marina Hyde
Obsessing over individual players and political chaos leaves less time to focus on the misogyny. And that’s for the best, isn’t it guys, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde
theguardian.com
#TheArchers I’m seeing George as the Brooklyn Beckham of the Grundy clan.
