Tag: neurodiversity

The Wayfinding Centre Dublin

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Leading on from my previous post about Google’s ADC, this week I’d like to talk about a recent trip I took to the Wayfinding Centre in Dublin.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the centre, it’s an innovative facility set up to make public transport more accessible for people with disabilities. The first of it’s kind, the centre empowers people with disabilities to navigate public transport by providing hands on training and experience in a safe indoor environment. Upon entering the centre, you walk into a real world replica of the Irish public transport experience including:

  • Street lighting, traffic lights, signage and timetable boards
  • Common transport noises such as pedestrian crossing sounds
  • Hazards including pavements (with accessible textured paving slabs), bollards, benches, fencing, fake roads, and train platforms
  • Replica cycle lanes, bus stops and pedestrian crossings
  • Sample train and Luas carriages
  • A double decker city bus and single level inter-city bus
  • An Accessible taxi
  • An Air France plane with replica airport security and boarding experience

In addition, the centre is also host to the living lab providing a high-tech innovation and research space where they perform user testing and conduct pilot projects, working closely with transport providers to make existing and future public transport more accessible for all users.

You can see a video from the launch of the centre in January 2024 below.

As previously discussed, navigating public transport can be quite an overwhelming experience for an autist. Everything is noisy and crowded and timetables can be confusing to decipher, especially when transport often does not stick to routine. The Wayfinding centre offers autists a unique opportunity to prepare themselves to access public transport to take some of the unknowns out of the equation. Autists can go to the centre and experience what it’s like to step onto public transport free from the sensory issues and pressure of the real world, allowing them to get used to the experience in a safe and supportive environment.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the centre is the experience of preparing for airport travel. Autists can visit the centre to get ready for their first trip to an airport and practice using scanners, putting luggage on carousels, and physically walking down the tunnel and on to a real plane where you can take your seat and comfortably adjust to the cabin experience.

I was really impressed by my visit and completely unaware such an innovative initiative was a mere few hours up the road. I would really recommend a visit if you’re around Dublin to experience the tour or access the facility in preparation for your public transport experience.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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New diagnosis of Profound Autism?

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

There’s been a lot of talk in the news this week about potentially revising the autism diagnostic criteria to include a separate diagnosis of profound autism. The medical journal ‘The Lancet‘ recommended this diagnosis in 2022 to account for the estimated 24% of autists who:

  • Are 8 years and older
  • Have an IQ of less than 50
  • Have little to no language skills
  • Require 24/7 care

The diagnosis was proposed to help adequately support more severe cases of autism as the current 3 level structure is too broad and autists are often overlooked in research and services. As I discussed in my previous post on the subject, the spectrum is divided up into levels 1, 2 and 3 classified into requiring support, requiring substantial support and requiring very substantial support. As a result, the broad definition has made it difficult to classify adequate support services for profound autism where some autists meeting the criteria got lower support levels, and some who did not meet the criteria got the highest support.

Many people are welcoming the proposed revision, however, others are concerned that the age threshold will place additional burdens on families. 90% of autists are diagnosed before the age of 8, leading to repeat assessments to confirm a profound diagnosis when the autist reaches the age threshold. Moreover, families would be placed in limbo without the full support they need while they wait for an official confirmation.

In my view, this is a step in the right direction. For many years I have been lamenting the fact that the spectrum needs to be reclassified- but not with regard to the lower levels of the spectrum. I was initially diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome round the time of the reclassification and broadening of the spectrum. While once a separate diagnosis with distinctive characteristics, it was subsumed by autism level 1 in 2013 following revelations of Hans Asperger’s Nazi affiliations.

As a result of this broadening, it has effectively narrowed public perception of higher functioning autists abilities. Asperger’s once implied a certain level of functioning bringing to mind the “little professor” persona. However, the word “autism” conjures the image of someone with serious sensory issues, who requires ear defenders and stimming toys (just look at Barbie). While visibility is very important for autists, this kind of negative stereotype gives the public a bad perception of higher functioning autists, which can be damaging if a diagnosis is disclosed when seeking employment. I have met some other level 1 autists over the last while, and find it astounding that we are the same on paper. Our functional levels and support needs are so far apart there should be an autism level minus 1 to separate us.

All in all, this is a positive move that this new diagnosis is being considered, but 13 years on, we need to revise the entire spectrum. Waiting lists are haemorrhaging, diagnoses are at unprecedented levels (they’re as high as 1 in 17 in Northern Ireland vs 1 in 83 in 2008), and supports are spread thin and often misallocated. A revision of the spectrum and classification of need is an important step forward.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! 🙂

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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Autism and Synesthesia

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week I’d like to discuss an unusual phenomenon that is experienced by approximately 19% of autists (compared with 4-7% of neurotypicals)- Synesthesia.

So what exactly is it?

Synesthesia is a rare neurological phenomenon where triggering one sense involuntarily stimulates another sense e.g., tasting colours, hearing shapes, perceiving words and numbers as colours etc.

Aoife, why do I feel like you’re starting to make up autistic conditions?

I know, it sounds wild but it’s a real thing! Famous synesthetes include numerous musicians such as Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Brendon Urie, Kanye West, Jimi Hendrix and Charli XCX, artist David Hockney and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

There are two main types of Synesthesia-sensory and cognitive/conceptual

  • Sensory Synesthesia– when one sense triggers another. Examples:
    • Auditory-tactile synesthesia– when sounds trigger touch-like sensations such as pain, pressure or temperature changes
    • Sound-color synesthesia– where you hear sounds as colours
    • Mirror-touch synesthesia– where you physically feel something that you see happen to someone else e.g., you see someone stub their toe and feel pain in your own toe
  • Cognitive/Conceptual Synesthesia- when senses get combined with semantic triggers, like numbers, letters, or time units. Examples:
    • Day-color synesthesia– where you associate days of the week with a particular colour
    • Time-space/spatial sequence synesthesia– where you visualize things in a very specific way, like seeing units of time in 3D shapes or colours e.g., 5+6= yellow

Some synesthetes have one form of synesthesia, while others will experience multiple forms.

In my own experience, I have some tendencies towards synesthesia. I associate some things like bands and people with colours- I always saw Muse as blue, Paramore as fuchsia, one of my colleagues as purple etc. I’ve also been known to describe tastes how something smells and vice versa. As discussed previously, I have an excellent sporadic eidetic memory. During my research for this blog, I’ve discovered that synesthetes also have excellent, vivid memories as their enhanced recall is tied to their heightened sensory perceptions and associations. Perhaps this explains why my memory works the way it does as I’ve always been able to recall very detailed memories by thinking of colours, outfits, smells, tastes, specific dates etc.

But why are neurodivergents more likely to experience synesthesia than neurotypicals?

As with many other co-morbid conditions, it appears that there may be a genetic overlap between the genes that cause autism and the genes that cause synesthesia. Moreover, the hyperconnectivity between different regions of the autistic brain (caused by a lack of synaptic pruning), can cause the heightened sensory sensitivity that leads to this blending of sensory stimuli.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! 🙂

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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Autism and Intrusive Sleep

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

To kickstart 2026, this week I’m going to take a look at the issue of autism and intrusive sleep.

So what exactly is that when it’s at home?

As discussed in my previous post on sleep and autism, 40 to 80% of autists experience issues with sleep. Intrusive sleep (not to be confused with narcolepsy) occurs when you suddenly experience drowsiness or involuntarily lose consciousness, a phenomenon that is usually triggered by boredom/loss of interest in autists with co-morbid ADHD (aka AuDHD). Also known as theta wave intrusion, this phenomenon occurs when slow theta brain waves associated with relaxation, meditation and deep sleep are triggered by a boring task, causing the brain to abruptly disengage, and you to nod off. Essentially these theta waves act as bridges between consciousness and wakefulness.

So many college lectures drifting in and out of consciousness are starting to make sense!

For much of my adult life I’ve struggled with daytime sleepiness hitting me at the most unfortunate times- in the middle of lectures, in crowded theatres during a musical, and several times throughout the work day, especially when dealing with monotonous tasks. I always thought it was due to a lack of sleep the previous night (and as a night owl admittedly, it often is), but I’ve noticed it happening more and more despite having a decent nights sleep. One minute I’m working away, the next I get the sudden urge to take a nap. Conversely if I’m engaged and stimulated, I could be running on 3 hours of sleep and not feel in the least bit sleepy!

But is there any reason the neurodivergent brain is susceptible to intrusive sleep?

People with autism and ADHD tend to have excess theta waves compared with neurotypicals particularly in the frontal cortex of the brain. Higher levels of theta are associated with lower levels of fast beta brainwaves which are needed for focus and alertness, making neurodivergent brains more prone to intrusive sleep and other sleep disturbances.

So don’t judge me too harshly the next time you see me struggling to stay awake in the middle of the day 🫠

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! 🙂

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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Google Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC)

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week I’d like to talk about a recent trip I took to Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC) in Dublin- the first of it’s kind in the EU. Now I know you might be wondering what a trip to Google has to do with autism- but bear with me!

So the ADC is a dedicated space where researchers and engineers develop new technologies that can help people with disabilities including those with autism. Not only do they develop new technologies, Google also uses this space to engage more effectively with disability communities to better understand our needs. The space is specifically designed to facilitate different disabilities- it’s wheelchair accessible, the colour scheme was designed to suit different disabilities with muted tones, and the lighting can be easily adjusted for sensitivities.

There were a number of really cool, innovative technologies that will really help the quality of life for people with physical disabilities including games that can be controlled with a chin joystick and ones that track eye movements- you can literally drive a car on the screen using your eyes! They are also working on some amazing tools for those with nonverbal autism such as a picture based program where you can click on images to make sentences (kind of like the rapid prompting method). You can see this in the image below:

They also showed us around their suite of accessibility tools and extensions available when using Google Chrome, including dyslexic font to help make reading easier- who knew such things could exist?🤯 One of my favourite parts of the tour was the neurodivergent corner where they had a range of nifty sensory toys you could play with which were great for stimming. They also had some glasses for light sensitivity issues, loop earplugs and a sliding social battery pin- which I could really do with getting my hands on 🤣.

It is a really cool facility and it’s great to see new dedicated spaces like these that are working on making life easier for neurodivergents and others with disabilities. If you’d like to tour the ADC, you can email Google at adc-dublin@google.com to set it up- I highly recommend the experience! 😀

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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Autism and Homelessness

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Leading on from my previous post about autism and employment, this week I’d like to discuss the link between autism and homelessness. I was shocked to learn recently that people with autism are at a higher risk of experiencing and remaining homeless than the general population. Research varies, but estimates of autism in the homeless range from 3%- 18.5%. This is a staggering statistic given that autism in the homed population is roughly 1-2%.

But why are autists more likely to experience homelessness?

As I’ve mentioned previously, 75-85% of autists are unable to find and maintain employment. Moreover, many autists struggle with co-morbid mental health issues and can be more likely to suffer from addiction issues- all of which can be contributing factors for homelessness. As a result of these struggles, autists do not have the same means that neurotypicals do to reduce their risk of homelessness and the ability to change their circumstances once homeless.

Autism is a condition that thrives on routine, stability and regulation of sensory environments which homelessness only serves to exacerbate. The sensory struggles with weather, the unfiltered noise of the city, the nasty smells from your surroundings can be completely overwhelming. Your mental health is on a knife edge and symptoms worsen without support and understanding. Most countries already struggle to provide adequate resources for housed autists and the general homeless population, making it even harder to properly support homeless autists. There is a serious lack of understanding of autism among workers in the homeless sector, especially with regard to the female experience. Surveys among workers in the homeless sector in the UK and Ireland have highlighted these gaps with over 90% of respondents noting the low levels of support for homeless autists and the need for autism specific training.

This is clearly a challenging issue that needs care and consideration to properly support the autistic community in both preventing and reversing homelessness.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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Virtual Autism

Greetings Earthlings!

This week I’d like to talk about a new type of autism that is emerging- virtual autism!

Em… what on earth is that?

No, it’s not some kind of futuristic disease or new computer virus. The reality of this condition is far more concerning.

Virtual autism is being used to describe a growing trend of developmental delays in children that mimic autism due to excessive digital device usage. In other words, screen usage is causing children to falsely present as autistic!

The term was first coined in 2018 by Romanian psychologist Marius Zamfir to describe behavioral abnormalities observed in children between the ages of 0 and 3 resulting from a lack of motor, sensory and social stimulation after spending >4 hours a day in a virtual environment. Symptoms observed  include communication issues, social withdrawal, lack of eye contact, attention problems, sleep issues, physical inactivity, and developmental delays which overlap with the early signs of classic autism. Similarly, other studies have backed up these observations by confirming the presence of autism like symptoms in toddlers that used electronic screens excessively.

Whilst the condition is too new to be recognized as a genuine diagnostic form of autism, experts are nonetheless warning parents about the risks and dangers of virtual autism. The good news is that unlike other forms of autism, virtual autism is easily preventable by monitoring and restricting screen usage. Similarly, virtual autism can be reversed and improved in most cases by reducing screen time, encouraging face to face interaction and playing with toys. The brain is highly adaptable, especially in childhood, so fear not if you think your child is showing signs of virtual autism. If you are unsure if your child is truly autistic or showing signs of virtual autism, cutting out excessive screen usage is a good first step to rule out virtual.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

Aoife

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Physical attributes of Autism

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Leading on from my previous post You don’t look autistic?, it seems that I might need to eat my words that no one looks autistic. Research in recent years indicates that autism may in fact have some physical attributes- in other words, there is actually an autistic look 🤯

Yep, I had to be peeled off the floor when I heard that- so many autists making jokes about not looking autistic and here we have science telling us that we do! 😂

So what does the research say?

Whilst there isn’t a specific definitive autistic look as with other genetic conditions like Down’s Syndrome, studies have identified the following facial features in autistic children:

  • Eyes are wider and spaced further apart
  • Broader upper face
  • Shorter middle face
  • Larger mouth and philtrum (i.e., the groove between your nose and mouth)
  • Others may also have a flattened nasal bridge, a longer philtrum, and a less pronounced chin

Similarly, studies suggest that 10-35% of autists have a larger head size than their neurotypical peers. The circumference of the head, particularly in males with autism, is much larger than average- a condition known as macrocephaly. This size difference is often linked to larger brain volume in childhood, thought to be caused by early brain overgrowth. Head size usually balances out in adulthood, but it may persist for some autists.

As with all autistic traits, not all autists may have these facial features (my mouth is so small my wisdom teeth had no room to grow), and the differences are so subtle it’s doubtful that the untrained eye will notice. The research is very limited, so these facial features may not even indicate an autism diagnosis, but still it’s a very interesting concept. Perhaps one day facial analysis may help speed up the autism diagnostic process.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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Do people with autism look younger?

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Leading on my from my previous post about autism and ageing, this week I’d like to discuss whether or not people with autism look younger.

Yep, apparently there appears to be a link between autism and looking younger!

In my own experience, it has been mentioned that I look far younger than my age. I’ve always had a youthful complexion, but I’d just chalked it down to good skincare, genes and the lack of a man to turn my hair grey 😂 Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my autism might be linked to my appearance!

So let’s explore why autists look younger.

As I’ve discussed in my previous post about autism and joint hypermobility, some autists have co-morbid hypermobility conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). This causes structural tissues like collagen to be weaker and more elastic which causes stretchy joints. However, this increased elasticity can result in a more youthful appearance as the skin is more resistant to damage, which can delay or even prevent the appearance of wrinkles🫨

Facial expressions may also contribute to a youthful visage, as autists tend to produce facial expressions less frequently and for shorter durations than neurotypicals. A less expressive face = less wrinkles.

It’s also possible that our youthful appearance may be more behavioural than biological. A lot of autists tend to be introverted and prefer indoorsy activities away from the elements, especially those with light sensitivity. As a result, lower UV exposure may be preserving our skin from the ageing impact of the sun. My nickname was ‘Dracula’ as a teenager as I would spend summers indoors reading, often returning from sun holidays with little to no tan🙈. On another level, our tendency towards naivety, more childish interests and behaviours can make us seem younger by association rather than looks.

However, while the evidence does seem to suggest autists do look younger, there equally is evidence that some autists look a lot older. As much as EDS increases skin elasticity, it can also lead to thin, fragile skin that can be more prone to bruising, resulting in premature ageing. One study even suggests that autists experience a faster rate of ageing and that they have an older facial age. This may however be correlated to poor self care, lifestyle and the higher levels of biological stress experienced by autists, buuuttt the same can largely be said for neurotypical ageing🤷‍♀️.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! 🙂

Happy Easter!

Aoife

1

Autism and Boredom

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week I’d like to discuss a topic that many autists struggle with- boredom. We all know the feeling, that mental itch that makes you want to jump out of your skin, but for autists boredom can be so much worse.

Many autists, especially those with co-morbid ADHD, crave constant stimulation. As a result, boredom occurs more easily than neurotypicals. A simple lack of interest in a topic, if a task is too easy, or feeling overwhelmed can trigger boredom and autists will tune out fast. When this happens, it can lead to negative behaviours where an autist will act out and be destructive and disruptive, it might even trigger a meltdown in chronic scenarios (I have had this happen in work following months of tedious tasks🙈).

Boredom has always been a challenge for me. I constantly need to be working on something. In school I often got in trouble for reading/drawing/writing during class as I would get ahead of my work and need to keep my hands busy while waiting for the lesson to move forward. If anything they should have encouraged my habit for productivity in my downtime! 🤷‍♀️

But what does the science have to say?

As I’ve discussed previously, autists have higher levels of stimulating neurotransmitters and lower levels of calming neurotransmitters, so their neurons are firing excessively in the brain. When they aren’t able to channel this excess stimulation into something, boredom takes over which can lead to negative behaviours that cause problems. Autists also have dysregulated levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine- the chemical involved in motivation, pleasure and reward systems. When dopamine levels are low, motivation is low, so when an activity is not enjoyable, autists won’t have the brain power to engage and boredom will set in.

On another level, there have been reports from doctors claiming that FMRI scans of ADHD brains show that areas of the brain associated with pain light up when they experience boredom, suggesting that boredom might actually be a painful experience for neurodivergents. However, other neuroscientists have refuted this claim as the human pain response largely remains a mystery, so making this assumption from the data is a bit of a stretch.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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