Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
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beatrixbird.bsky.social
Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
@beatrixbird.bsky.social
99 followers 250 following 100 posts
Autistic autism researcher
PhD student at The University of Sheffield
Laser-focused on cool things: monotropism, neurodiversity paradigm, birds & video games
Multiply neurodivergent & disabled #DisabledPride
She/they
Views my own
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beatrixbird.bsky.social
Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻 @beatrixbird.bsky.social · Jun 16
If you've ever zoned in so hard the world disappeared, this is for you. Check out my accessible presentation on measuring Monotropism @ Cafe Autistique in Manchester, 11 June 2025.

youtu.be/tz2XpO1tg0Y?...
Monotropism @ Cafe Autistique 2025 | Beatrix Butnicu
YouTube video by Tunnel Visionary
youtu.be
beatrixbird.bsky.social
Reyt Wild and Free Occupational Therapy is a wellness consultancy based in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. They specialise in supporting children with complex needs, their families, and their schools.
Reyt Wild & Free OT
www.reytwildfreeot.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
Brucks, D., Krasheninnikova, A., von Bayern, A. M. P., & Bugnyar, T. (2020). Parrots voluntarily help each other to obtain food rewards. Current Biology, 30(2), 292–297.e5. doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
Alt text: Two African grey parrots sit in adjacent metal cages. One has a pile of metal rings, the other has a single walnut. Between them is a small hole in the divider. The image illustrates a study where parrots passed rings through the hole so their partners could trade them for treats. Post text: Scientists taught African grey parrots to swap metal rings for treats. Then they paired birds so one had ten rings and the other had none. The ring-rich parrots started passing rings through a hole so partners could “buy” walnuts — even with no reward for themselves.
October 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
This adorable story shows how an experiment can seem to work but measure the wrong thing! A child tested if bird seeds grow birds, and birds appeared, confirming the idea. But the seeds *attracted* birds. In science that’s a threat to construct validity, and it happens to the best of scientists!
Screenshot of a tweet from user @_grimm (@ExileGrimm). It reads: “What’s the dumbest beliefs you had as a child? When I was 4–5 I swore that bird seeds grew birds, thus the name. When my parents asked me to prove it to them, I planted a pile of bird seeds. The next day there were loads of birds where I planted the seeds, showing I was right.”
October 31, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
@thrivingautistic.bsky.social has a new resource signposting page about:
Masking, Emotional Regulation & Self-Care, Internalised Ableism, Sensory, Self-Advocacy, Intersectionality, Imposter Syndrome, Disclosure, Monotropism, Relationships, Burnout & more!
www.thrivingautistic.org/discovery-pr...
Discovery Programme Resources
Gentle, neuroaffirming resources created by and for Autistic adults.
www.thrivingautistic.org
October 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
More new research!

Challenges, Strengths, and Joys of Autistic Parents: An abductive qualitative content analysis of parent interviews. Thom-Jones, S., Brownlow, C., & Abel, S. (2025).https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251385735
A rectangular infographic titled “Challenges, Strengths, and Joys of Autistic Parents: An Abductive Qualitative Content Analysis of Parent Interviews” by Thom-Jones, Brownlow, and Abel (2025). The background is a muted green with a white rounded rectangle in the center containing text. The infographic highlights that major challenges for Autistic parents are external, including lack of access to appropriate supports, inappropriate supports, and discrimination from professionals and service providers. It notes feelings of not being good enough or failing as a parent. It also states that some participants reported joy in parenting and strengths such as egalitarian parenting, open and honest communication, and insight and understanding. The bottom includes a formal citation and a small circular Autistic Realms logo with the words “Neurodiversity Affirming.
October 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Free training from @vivdawes.bsky.social and myself: Supporting Autistic Children and Young People through Burnout.
Shared via Autistic Burnout Network - lots more resources available!
autisticburnoutnetwork.com

youtu.be/LzBaTGZos8s?...
Viv Dawes and Helen Edgar
YouTube video by Autistic Burnout Network
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 5:06 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
Beauty is in the eye of the monotropic unicorn. #monotropism
Pink smiling unicorn t-shirt with real sunglasses hanging as if under its eyes, curly purple hair strands and a multi colour polka dot scarf. The unicorn is my embodied metaphor for Monotropism, the horn (attention tunnel) coming out of the prefrontal cortex and converving into a singular point of focus, which often feels ike magic.
October 16, 2025 at 3:52 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
Hummingbird Hawk Moth in my garden this morning!
September 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
Can everyone take more paracetamol please? It would really help my headaches.

/Joke
September 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Autism isn’t caused by medicine.
Claims that paracetamol in pregnancy causes autism are false.
We do not need to prevent or cure autism.
Autistic people are valuable.

Great guidance here from @contactfamilies.bsky.social for anyone who is worried or concerned with the news today.
September 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
chrisdjtaylor.bsky.social
#TheMostInterestingThinginMentalHealth: #Insomnia is major factor contributing to many mental health problems. @ProfEspie University of Oxford
@ox.ac.uk gives top tips for clinicians at the European CBT Conference
#EABCT2025 @babcpevents.bsky.social
@babcpjournals.bsky.social @babcp.com
September 3, 2025 at 10:13 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
youtube.com/watch?v=-eDv...
This made me cry tears of joy. So beautiful.
Discovering You're Autistic
YouTube video by Thriving Autistic
youtube.com
September 19, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Hurrah!
We can finally share the animations I have been working on with @thrivingautistic.bsky.social

Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic

Please do let us know what you think and share if you find valuable!

youtu.be/3O6hy-usIug?...
Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic
YouTube video by Thriving Autistic
youtu.be
September 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
#glimmer I love these little raindrops.
Copper-coloured leaves with lots of little raindrops on them.
September 18, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
So very happy to be part of the @stimpunks.org team working on this!
Updated page - have a look... exciting things happening and thoughts evolving...
stimpunks.org Stimpunks Foundation @stimpunks.org · Sep 17
The landing page for our learning space is epic. Check it out. This is how we create space for the neurodivergent and disabled people most ill-served by “empty pedagogy, behaviorism, and the rejection of equity“.

stimpunks.org/space/
Learning Space: At the Intersection of Dewey and Freire
Stimpunks Learning Space offers community and space for passion-based, human-centered learning with purpose.
stimpunks.org
September 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
#glimmer my work kitchen has a beautiful bird tray and I'm so happy
Dish rack where a big white tray with colourful bird prints is sitting
September 17, 2025 at 9:02 AM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
youtube.com/watch?v=mldC...
Very interesting. In school the girls were asked to stand up if they were Christian. Emily didn't. She said, "They thought it queer I didn't rise, I thought a lie would be queerer."
The Autistic Poetry of Emily Dickinson
YouTube video by Meeka le Fay
youtube.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Hope you can join us!
FREE tickets!
A great opportunity to watch the 2 new animations about being Autistic that I've been working on with @iara-abigalil.bsky.social, @fergus.oolong.co.uk , @scrappapertiger.bsky.social , @jessicakdoyle.bsky.social, Laura Buckland Mason & @somebodysomeone.bsky.social
thrivingautistic.bsky.social Thriving Autistic @thrivingautistic.bsky.social · Sep 16
FREE COMMUNITY ONLINE EVENT THIS THURSDAY!

Invitation to join us for our FREE online event:
Discovery Celebration: Autistic Community Shaping Neuro-Affirmative Support

FREE ONLINE TICKETS
18th September
7–8:45pm Irish/UK time

Tickets:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/discovery-...
September 16, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
E-Book: Monotropism: Supporting Young Autistic People With Transitions At Home & School
Hopefully helpful for the start of term!
Monotropism: Supporting Young Autistic People With Transitions
"Embracing Monotropism & Supporting Young Autistic People With Transitions at Home and School" by Helen Edgar (Autistic Realms). This is a neurodiversity-affirming guide for families, educators, and anyone supporting young autistic people.✨ Learn about monotropism — a powerful, positive theory of autistic experiences✨ Practical advice for supporting flow states, transitions, and sensory needs at home and school ✨ Ideas for creating environments where young autistic people can thrive✨ Resources, readings, and community support links included! Download now and help young people embrace their unique flow! (updated ebook originally created for PANDA charity 2024)
autisticrealms.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
fergus.oolong.co.uk
Seriously, please write to your MP about this, whoever they are, if you're in the UK.
September 11, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
fergus.oolong.co.uk
This is so important. The NHS ADHD waiting lists are years long all over Scotland, apart from places where they've been closed entirely.

I got on the Edinburgh waiting list five years ago, just before a huge rise in people realising they need it; diagnosed after 4 years; still waiting on any meds.
September 11, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
New published blog by myself and @tanyaadkin.bsky.social for @autisticsociety.bsky.social

What is monotropism? Understanding a neuroaffirming theory of autism

www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-g...
What is monotropism? Understanding a neuroaffirming theory of autism
Monotropism is an attention-based theory of autism that is gaining increasing recognition among the autistic community, researchers and practitioners within education and workplace settings.
www.autism.org.uk
September 5, 2025 at 7:18 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
Am I the Asshole? (Poem)
Am I the Asshole? Am I the disease? Am I killing myself softly, or thornily, for lack of a better world? Am I the world? No longer a fool, but a tired old hermit that's seen too much, that's seen enough? Am I the immune system? Too much when not needed; Not enough in the hour that counts? Am I a ticking time bomb? Succumb to my disease, my demon in the doorway? Take out my own allies When I feel as alone with them as with my foes? Am I the asshole? The same hurt, misguided person that makes hurt, misguided people; The bitter reactionary I fight today? Am I the lesson I cannot teach? The hurt I want to spare the ones who are outliers even to outliers carried in my marrow, breaking through my tongue. Not a truth the libraries could hold but one I live before I learn. @ Beatrix Butnicu, 2025
September 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Reposted by Beatrix Butnicu 🦆🪻
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Reflections on The Autistic Mental Health Conference. How Autistic communities create care through shared understanding & reclaiming narratives, resisting harm & reframing wellbeing.
An interview with @emergentdivergence.com

autisticrealms.com/reflections-...
Reflections on the Autistic Mental Health Conference 2025 | Autistic Realms
Reflections On The Autistic Mental Health Conference. An Interview between David Gray-Hammond & Helen Edgar
autisticrealms.com
September 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
beatrixbird.bsky.social
Judgement
Judgement Tiny tears Make up an ocean And I hate Going to the beach. Give me a mountain and I’ll move it. Give me anything but the sea. How do I sail through foggy waters? How do I walk the plank in a storm? How do we fix a cracked foundation? How do we stay? How do we stay afloat? “You’ll stay, because I said so.” “You’ll stay, because girls don’t rock the boat.” “You’ll stay, even if I have to make you.” “You’ll stay." And that’s all she wrote. “I don’t want to stay in the basement.” “I don’t want to be muted and maimed.” “I don’t want to sit at an empty table.” “I don’t want to be covered and ashamed.” “Shame is a child,” said the Lady. “To muffle and to mould." The girl raised her teapot. “Treat me like a murderer, and I’ll murder you cold.” @ Beatrix Butnicu, 2025
September 3, 2025 at 6:42 PM