That post was added here as I just need somewhere to park it so I can refer to it in my email signature block.
I am NOT in any other way resuming use of this blog.
This blog was for my study of political science and philosophy (not now), but is an outlet for me on human rights - a particular and continuing passion of mine, based on lived experience and problems [Content Warning! Reader discretion is advised]. All opinions are my own, and have nothing to do with any organisation I have ever been associated with.
That post was added here as I just need somewhere to park it so I can refer to it in my email signature block.
I am NOT in any other way resuming use of this blog.
Seven points about autism:
1. Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference. Because of some characteristics of that difference, societal conditions, and a range of co-occurring conditions, it can be functionally disabling. (Note that no more than 30% of autists have learning disabilities.)
2. Autists (“people with autism”) have a higher than usual number of synaptic connections (see https://www.healthline.com/health/synaptic-pruning) between nerve cells than neurotypical people (everyone has too many at birth, but synaptic pruning reduces that number more effectively for neurotypical people [and people with conditions such as Parkinsons may have excessive synaptic pruning]). In my (non-medical) opinion, it can be useful, in terms of understanding the sensory sensitivities of autism, to think of this as magnifying the conveyance of sensory inputs compared to neurotypical people – it is like receiving a phone call simultaneously on multiple phones, rather than just one.
3. Just as neurotypical people have different sensory likes and dislikes, so too do autists. The circular profile (see https://www.apricott.com/resources/autism-spectrum-wheel) of autism traits (often giving a unique “spikiness” for each autist) is far more practically useful than thinking of autism as a linear spectrum, or as having distinct levels of support/recovery needs - such needs are unique to each autist, and may be deliberately masked (hidden) for safety & to prevent discrimination, which results in support/recovery being needed when out of the public eye. Those needs include the often profound exhaustion caused by masking, which can lead to extreme burnout.
4. In addition, much as around 10% of people become left handed (~1% when being left handed was discriminated against - resulting in ~900% increase when discrimination ended) - which is described as an asymmetrical bifurcation (“These phenomena aren’t “caused” by anything. They’ve always existed as natural variations in human development. They mark a divergence from the majority path, hence the term “asymmetrical”: most people follow one trajectory, while a smaller group diverges and takes a different, but equally human, path” * ), while most infants “process information through a social bias — meaning their cognitive and emotional development is shaped by constant social interaction. They don’t perceive objects in isolation, but in reference to others: parents, siblings, peers” * , at some point “some babies, for no apparent reason, diverge. They stop processing information through the social bias. This developmental shift is a developmental bifurcation. Social cues lose their privileged status, not because they are rejected, but because they are no longer prioritised. In a sense, the child “chooses” — much like a river finds its course — a path of cognitive independence. This shift coincides with observable signs of autism” (“reduced interest in others’ actions, language treated as information rather than communication, less responsiveness to social interaction” *). This results in behaviours such as a focus on the requirements of procedures as they are written, rather than modifying expectations to suit social circumstances.
* From https://larivierre.substack.com/p/what-if-the-dsm-5-got-autism-wrong
5. Autists (and most neurodivergent people) feel and express empathy, but in ways that are different to the way neurotypical people do. This difference, often described as “the double empathy problem” ** , means each group tends to empathise in ways that are comprehensible within each group, but not to the other (this can be more pronounced if the neurodivergent person is experiencing a sensory overload or a meltdown – remembering the multiple extra synaptic connections conveying sensations multiple times). As neurotypical predominate, this can result in an incorrect, but predominating view, that autists lack empathy.
** See https://reframingautism.org.au/miltons-double-empathy-problem-a-summary-for-non-academics/, https://www.simplypsychology.org/autism-double-empathy-problem.html, and https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/double-empathy
6. Autists may use repeated movements and behaviour, known as ‘stimming’ (short for ‘self-stimulating behaviour’) to help stay calm (‘self-regulating’ emotions or ‘self-soothing’), or to express joy, or for sensory input and enjoyment. Most of this is beneficial for the autist and harmless, although some is to manage distress - which requires addressing the cause of the distress, NOT suppressing the stimming.
For more on this see https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/what-you-need-to-know-about-stimming-and-autism and https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/about-autism/repeated-movements-and-behaviour-stimming
7. Formal identification of autism is expensive, stressful, and subject to protracted delays. Self-identification, which does NOT allow any access to resources, is known to be a very strong indicator of formal identification, if that is subsequently sought. In any case, providing reasonable adaptations to such normal human variations is a part of normal human decency, much as is making allowance for left handedness, catering for food allergies, or accommodations for people with conditions such as arthritis.
For more on this see https://reframingautism.org.au/all-about-self-identification/, https://www.simplypsychology.org/autism-self-diagnosis.html, and https://embrace-autism.com/is-self-assessment-enough/
I will also start collecting some videos on this at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGpDPh01NoRn5pM8dTINchHpGYQi2u343&si=QRndLFcSgS1DPitW
Copyright © Kayleen White 2025
NO AI I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise replicate any part of this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product.
Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
For personal reasons, this blog will likely be on hold for the next few months ... or longer ... in fact, permanently, so I can focus of other life demands and personal needs (and my main blog).
Others are doing far better in this area than I as it is: my leaving will allow a little more attention to them, although my readership may not be noticed by them 😊
And I thank all those who have read this blog over the years: that has been appreciated, and I hope of some value.
Remember:
we need to be more human being rather than human doing, and all
misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+
lives at risk
& accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor
comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering”.
Copyright © Kayleen White 2016-2024 NO AI
I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence
(AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or
other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to
reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise replicate any part of
this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product. Otherwise,
fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that linked articles may contains names and/or images of deceased people. READER CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED! For anyone distressed by anything in this post, or for any other reason considering seeking support, resources are available in Australia here, here, and here. In other nations, you will have to do an Internet search using terms such as “mental health support - <your nation>” (which, for instance, may lead to this, this, and this, in the USA, or this, this, and this, in France [biased towards English-language - my apologies]), or perhaps try https://www.befrienders.org/.
It has been a year since the disastrous outcome from the Voice referendum, and quite a bit is being written which is worth considering:
“It Wasn’t Political; It Was Personal” https://www.clothingthegaps.com.au/blogs/blogs/it-wasnt-political-it-was-personal “Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The Fight for Yes One Year On” and “A Collection of your Referendum Stories” https://www.clothingthegaps.com.au/blogs/blogs/a-collection-of-your-referendum-stories and “It’s still yes” https://www.clothingthegaps.com.au/blogs/blogs/its-still-yes
“Indigenous voice champions mark referendum anniversary with rallying cry for unity in Australia” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/14/indigneous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-anniversary-advocates-call-for-unity “Australia ‘still can’t have the hard conversations’, Pat Anderson tells online audience, who commit to stay true to Uluru”
“I don’t want to revisit the time and the fallout of the voice referendum. But we cannot maintain the status quo” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/13/i-dont-want-to-revisit-the-time-and-the-fallout-of-the-voice-referendum-but-we-cannot-maintain-the-status-quo “The agendas of truth-telling and treaty cannot be allowed to fall by the wayside in the failure of the voice to get up”
In addition, the following are some past articles I have written on this and related topics:
Assumptions / basis
In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
If they are of any use or interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.
Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.
One of the many arguments I lost during my day work career, was pointing out the dangers of compelling people to change passwords frequently.
After many years of activism from many people - including experts, someone in officialdom is FINALLY listening ....
See:
“Rejoice! The charade of having to change our passwords every few months is coming to an end” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/09/charade-change-passwords-cyberattacks “The US government is finally admitting there’s no need – instead, to fend off cyber-attacks we need passwords that are long but memorable”
That it has taken so long is an indication of the flawed capabilities of people in management - and in professions, such as the electrical engineer who not only refused to concede that people bought solar panels to save the planet, not money, but threatened me (which management refused to act on) for pointing that out.
That denialistic fervour is a good lead in to the other article I wish to post about, which is the first of two MeidasTouch Network videos reporting on “The World Mental Health Coalition's major conference 'THE MORE DANGEROUS STATE OF THE WORLD AND THE NEED FOR FIT LEADERSHIP' with Dr Bandy Lee and 17 experts”, which includes a particular focus on Trump.
See:
“World Doctors Take LAST MINUTE ACTION against Trump” https://youtu.be/vr55vKYj57c
PS - see also:
“From the Storm to the Stormtroopers” https://snyder.substack.com/p/from-the-storm-to-the-stormtroopers “The Fascist Logic of Climate Lying” and “A first reaction to Timothy Snyder’s new book “On Freedom”” https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-first-reaction-to-timothy-snyders-new.html
“The Axis of Tyranny in America and Russia” https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-axis-of-tyranny-in-america-and “Trump and Putin are stronger allies than we even knew. This is bad news for Ukraine if Trump wins the election, and bad news for American democracy.”
“WHY? #WHY2040” https://youtu.be/DBuj4oKy79o which is part of the Bulletproof Dreams Exhibition https://www.youtube.com/@bproofdreams and is VERY powerful
and
“Revealed: University of Sydney spent millions more on consultants than repaying wages of casual staff | Australian universities | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/10/revealed-university-of-sydney-spent-millions-more-on-consultants-than-repaying-wages-of-casual-staff “Greens say revelations a ‘damning indictment’ that speak to a ‘broken governance culture’ at prestigious universities” The consultants were “for calculating and administering liability for wage underpayments and a review of its systems than it has paid out to staff”
Assumptions / basis
In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
If they are of any use or interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.
Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.
This should be noted:
“Autocracy and Poverty” https://snyder.substack.com/p/autocracy-and-poverty
Poverty has always been a policy choice.
Assumptions / basis
In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
If they are of any use or interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.
Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.
This is concerning:
“Man who zip-tied three young Indigenous children found guilty of assault, receives spent conviction” https://nit.com.au/05-10-2024/14079/man-who-zip-tied-three-young-indigenous-children-found-guilty-of-assault
“Spent conviction” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spent_conviction&oldid=1211234749#Australia
In better news, the following is an example of properly holding people to account through the justice systems of the world:
“Alex Jones's Entire Empire Is Being Sold Off ft. Liz Dye” https://youtu.be/yizjldUT9kc
I have decided to expand this to include a few links on other human rights issues more generally.
On politics/policy choices:
And on hate:
Assumptions / basis
In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
If they are of any use or interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.
Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.
Having ended my previous post with a news article on the differences between Australia and the USA, and why we are less likely to go down their extreme path, there are some articles about what is happening there which should be read and considered, in my opinion.
The first two are about the failures of the USA’s mainstream media:
“The mainstream media has failed us after 7 October | Peter Beinart | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/07/mainstream-media-israel-denies-palestinian-freedom “Not only did they mostly ignore Israel’s denial of Palestinian freedom, but also the contradictions in Israel’s military strategy” and “It's time to name names...” https://activistwitch.substack.com/p/its-time-to-name-names
The next is one that is so big I am still thinking about it.
“Donald Trump’s H_t l_erian logic is no mistake” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/07/donald-trumps-h_t l_rian-logic-is-no-mistake “The former president claims to have never read M__n K_m p f . But his use of blood and soil rhetoric is deliberate”
Trump’s fascist leanings are well known, so that is nothing new (including the statements he has made admiring that utter despot) and, sadly, is not shocking.
What is new - to me, at any rate - are the alleged family links to H_t l_rian ideology, and the evidence of direct contact with those writings.
“The Trump and Christ families, with the exception of Friedrich and Elisabeth Trump, remained in Kallstadt. Many of them served in the N_zi army. Some were members of the N_zi party. Two of these relatives of Donald Trump are now known to have fought and died for Hitler. It appears that they were involved in the early stage of the Holocaust. (A certified professional genealogist distinguished in the field discovered these Trump N_zi soldiers through their research, but prefers to remain anonymous to avoid retribution.) ... Trump designates his blood as superior and the blood of those he chooses to demonize as inferior. ... Trump claims he has not read Mein Kampf. His first wife, Ivana Trump, said he “reads a book of Hitler’s collected speeches, My New Order, which he keeps in a cabinet by his bed” ”
The article has some very striking points about Trump’s attitudes, including his noxious view that his own blood can, in effect, purify others ...
The article is a must read, in my opinion.
Assumptions / basis
In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
If they are of any use or interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.
Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.
Copyright © Kayleen White 2016-2024 NO AI I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise replicate any part of this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product. Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/