Helga Sneddon
helgasneddon.bsky.social
Helga Sneddon
@helgasneddon.bsky.social
Using evidence to improve outcomes. Director of Outcome Imps, thrower of pots, Champion of CoderDojo Banbridge, nerdy beek and lazy hiker
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
To explore our longlist and application process, and answer your questions, we're hosting briefing sessions on:

Monday 15 September, 2pm
Tuesday 30 September, 2pm
Wednesday 15 October, 11am

Register now to receive joining details: forms.office.com/e/9d7EzRA7fa
September 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
We're looking for organisations to host IMPACT projects in 2026-27

We're looking for sites of all sizes, from individual services to whole regions

View the long list of possible topics here: impact.bham.ac.uk/contact-us-2...
September 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
Last night, we welcomed lots of our new starters to Birmingham, as part of the 2025-26 induction

It’s exciting to hear about the work that’s already happened, just a couple of weeks in to the project year, and reconnect with some of our colleagues who have been part of IMPACT for much longer
September 25, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Great training this morning on how to do person centered planning with Aiden, Louise and @arcni_teamTILII. All part of the @impadultcare.bsky.social Managed Budgets project @arcni @healthdpt #Coproduction
September 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
First up is Discovering You're Autistic, about the experience of realising you're autistic, and the things we've found most valuable for anyone starting out on that journay.

Realising that there are many other people out there with similar experiences is so powerful.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eDv...
Discovering You're Autistic
YouTube video by Thriving Autistic
www.youtube.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
The other animation is Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic.

So much about Autistic experience is still missing from most professional accounts, which have been formulated from the outside.

Many people talk about all these little epiphanies: 'I thought it was just me!'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O6h...
Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic
YouTube video by Thriving Autistic
www.youtube.com
September 18, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
Neurodiverse defendants deserve a fairer chance in the Criminal Justice System.

Dr Bernard Horsford, Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, calls for you to get involved in a study that seeks to drive change.

www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...
Neurodiverse defendants deserve a fairer chance in the Criminal Justice System | BPS
Dr Bernard Horsford, Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, calls for you to get involved in a study that seeks to drive change.
www.bps.org.uk
September 4, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
Our Special Issue on The Social Model in Autism Research is now available online & all articles are free until 11th September!

journals.sagepub.com/toc/AUT/curr...

Here are some of the brilliant things you can find in it...

#AutismResearch #AutRes
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
September 3, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
“Building back better” rolled off the tongues of politicians during the pandemic, disabled campaigner tells #Covid inquiry. But all that's happened has been a 'huge rollback' of disability rights.
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/covid-inquir...
Covid inquiry hears of ‘huge rollback’ in rights and support since pandemic
Disabled people have undergone a “huge rollback” in their rights and social security support since the pandemic, a disability rights campaigner and adviser has told the Covid inquiry. Despite polit…
www.disabilitynewsservice.com
August 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
NEW
Practitioners as researchers – experiences of four people working in hybrid roles in two local authorities and a university
John Woolham et al
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com
July 20, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Absolute pleasure to meet the Bangor @arcni_teamTILII group & hear them Telling It Like it is. Great discussion about how to do assessments, provide support & do reviews & how important choice is for living your best life. Thanks Lou for organising! @arcni.bsky.social @impadultcare.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
Autistics aren't merely "sensitive" to sound; autistic tendencies also include "expanded access to auditory information, heightened perception to pitch, difficulties dealing with speech in background noise, and taking longer to adapt to auditory environments.":

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Auditory environments influence the link between Autistic traits and quality of life - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Auditory environments influence the link between Autistic traits and quality of life
www.nature.com
July 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Another great session with the ARC TILII group in Belfast finding out what makes a good life & how to ensure assessments, support & review processes keep individuals with learning disability at the centre. Massive thanks to Lou & the awesome TILII members! @impadultcare.bsky.social #Coproduction
July 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Great morning with ARC NI team TILII finding out what it means to have a good life & what we need to be thinking about when we’re doing assessments, finding support & doing reviews. Big thank you to Louise from ARC NI & the team at Fresh Focus for all the help! #Coproduction #ImpactManagedBudgets
July 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
We're looking for one representative from Northern Ireland who draws on care and support, and one unpaid carer representative from Wales to join IMPACT's Co-production Advisory Group.

Find out more about the roles and apply here: buff.ly/7Kq2zhB
May 23, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
Don't forget to register for our online briefing on IMPACT’s work in Northern Ireland!
buff.ly/QgxJgdi

13 June 2025 10:00 - 11:00

Hear about IMPACT’s Delivery Models – in action across NI. Learn how evidence is transforming adult social care, explore how you can get involved & connected!
Fill | IMPACT Northern Ireland Briefing - 13 June, 10am-11am
Please register below if you would like to attend.  Please save the date in your diary - you will receive a follow up email including further details closer to the event date with a joining link.
buff.ly
May 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Estimated prevalence of autism within the school aged population in Northern Ireland was 5.9% in 2024/25.

Figures in new report from @healthdpt.bsky.social

www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/publica...
Publication of ‘The Prevalence of Autism (including Aspergers Syndrome) in School Age Children in Northern Ireland. Annual report 2025’
The Department of Health has today published ‘The Prevalence of Autism (including Aspergers Syndrome) in School age Children in Northern Ireland. Annual report 2025’.
www.health-ni.gov.uk
May 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
eight years ago today we all watched the glory of zendaya falling madly in love with tom holland and the internet was never the same
May 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Lovely morning in Stormont talking all things outcomes frameworks and strategy with Tiny Life. Fabulous setting and a great team
April 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
I was at a meeting today where we discussed equality, equity and justice.

I was pleased to have this illustration from Tony Ruth easily to hand.

#Equity
#Equality
#Justice
#Diversity
#Inequality

Search “Giving Tree” by Tony Ruth for more explanation of this picture and concept.
April 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Helga Sneddon
New research on what happens to older people, families and care staff when care homes close - policy and practice guide & training video via www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/soci...
March 30, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Systematic review suggests online support groups can have positive impact on social wellbeing, behaviour & adjustment, with inconclusive findings for physical health & quality of life. Also possibility of negative effect on anxiety & distress, especially when exposed to others’ difficult experiences
March 17, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Great to be at the annual Social work and Social Care conference today and hear all about coproduction and research. Lots of interesting people to catch up with and interesting speakers. Even had a chance to spread the word about @ImpAdultCare! @NI_SCC
March 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Great fun the last couple of days with the @impadultcare.bsky.social team in Birmingham and even managed to make it back in time to see the legend @daraobriain.bsky.social in Dublin. Perfect!
February 6, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Good to catch up with Robin Miller, Amanda Barr, Barbara Campbell and Deirdre Heenan about the NI work being done to improve adult social care through @ImpAdultCare. Lots of great projects underway! Deirdre, we need to get you in the pic next time tho!
impact.bham.ac.uk
December 5, 2024 at 10:41 PM