Kim Mears
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kimmears.bsky.social
Kim Mears
@kimmears.bsky.social
1.2K followers 410 following 54 posts
Interested in all things neurodiversity - love learning. Just graduated from masters in education researching speech therapy practice and semi-speaking. Link to paper here https://oro.open.ac.uk/102586/ (she/her)
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kimmears.bsky.social
Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · Jan 20
In July last year a wonderful group of people came together to create an ebooklet on neurodiversity to raise money for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since then we have raised over £2000. Now more than ever the people of Gaza need our help.
To get a copy see below. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social
Front page of booklet called ways of being knowing and doing.
Reposted by Kim Mears
kimmears.bsky.social
Please keep donating. Xx
kimmears.bsky.social Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · Jun 21
Almost a year & almost £3000 raised. This ebooklet is still available. To get it donate to a charity supporting aid in Gaza & send proof of donation to ndebooklet@outlook.com. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social @elainemcgreevy.bsky.social & many more. Minimum donation £8 pls. Thank you
kimmears.bsky.social Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · Jan 20
In July last year a wonderful group of people came together to create an ebooklet on neurodiversity to raise money for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since then we have raised over £2000. Now more than ever the people of Gaza need our help.
To get a copy see below. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
Please keep donating. Xx
kimmears.bsky.social Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · Jun 21
Almost a year & almost £3000 raised. This ebooklet is still available. To get it donate to a charity supporting aid in Gaza & send proof of donation to ndebooklet@outlook.com. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social @elainemcgreevy.bsky.social & many more. Minimum donation £8 pls. Thank you
kimmears.bsky.social Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · Jan 20
In July last year a wonderful group of people came together to create an ebooklet on neurodiversity to raise money for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since then we have raised over £2000. Now more than ever the people of Gaza need our help.
To get a copy see below. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
Almost a year & almost £3000 raised. This ebooklet is still available. To get it donate to a charity supporting aid in Gaza & send proof of donation to ndebooklet@outlook.com. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social @elainemcgreevy.bsky.social & many more. Minimum donation £8 pls. Thank you
kimmears.bsky.social Kim Mears @kimmears.bsky.social · Jan 20
In July last year a wonderful group of people came together to create an ebooklet on neurodiversity to raise money for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since then we have raised over £2000. Now more than ever the people of Gaza need our help.
To get a copy see below. @commonsenseslt.bsky.social
Front page of booklet called ways of being knowing and doing.
June 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
If you see this, quote this post with your favourite one word movie
June 21, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
kkarapanagiotidis.bsky.social
#freedomflotilla #madleen #gaza #palestine #greta
June 9, 2025 at 3:03 AM
kimmears.bsky.social
Tickets still available for this webinar next week.
May 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
kimmears.bsky.social
www.linkedin.com/posts/kim-me...
I’m running a workshop on the 2nd June online. Tickets available on the link below
Neurodiversity and autonomous communication | Kim Mears
This workshop will cover: The terms neurodiversity, neurodivergence and the neurodiversity paradigm and their relationship to speech and language therapy practice including neurodivergent informed re...
www.linkedin.com
May 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
www.linkedin.com/posts/kim-me...
I’m running a workshop on the 2nd June online. Tickets available on the link below
Neurodiversity and autonomous communication | Kim Mears
This workshop will cover: The terms neurodiversity, neurodivergence and the neurodiversity paradigm and their relationship to speech and language therapy practice including neurodivergent informed re...
www.linkedin.com
May 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
Looking forward to running a workshop on autonomous communication & neurodiversity (2nd June). Will be sharing lots of fabulous research & lived experiences with references links. See below for the workshop tix & the recording - available for 3 months.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neurodiver...
Neurodiversity and autonomous communication
This webinar will explore and discuss neurodiversity and it’s relevance to communication and AAC for autistic individuals.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
May 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
Delighted to be asked and really looking forward to this programme. The group is so valuable. Come along if you can.
drasko-kascelan.bsky.social Draško Kašćelan @drasko-kascelan.bsky.social · May 2
Excited to share the MuLaVaN reading group programme for July-September 2025. Many valuable papers to be discussed and an invited talk by @kimmears.bsky.social titled "Semi-speaking and the neurodiversity paradigm: A challenge to dominant discourses in speech and language therapy".
May 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
Thank you so much @cypmentalhealth.bsky.social for a fantastic lunch & learn about www.wordsmatters.org such important work to end childhood verbal abuse. youtu.be/ndIrEreK2nY?... great video & fab resources.
www.wordsmatters.org
March 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
Today I went down a glorious rabbit hole reading about techno-ableism and techno-solutionism. So relevant to AAC where therapists prescribe rather than support. Loved Daryl Sellwood et al’s manifesto thank you!
a woman wearing headphones and a plaid shirt says how interesting
Alt: a woman wearing headphones and a plaid shirt says how interesting as she touches her face.
media.tenor.com
March 23, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
gonebabygone.bsky.social
Today is the 35th anniversary of the Capitol Crawl, in which disabled activists discarded their mobility aids at the foot of the Capitol steps to climb them in support of passage of the Americans with Disabilities Ac. Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, 8, told reporters "I'll take all night if I have to!"
Three people in sky blue shirts and jeans climbing the steps of the US Capitol, including a young blonde girl wearing a red and white bandanna around her head and turning to look at the camera
March 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
ben-potts.co.uk
Please see the UPDATED poster as we are now offering payment.

I’m looking for fellow #autistic, #ADHD, and #AuDHD adults to take part in a group discussion to help shape my PhD research on emergency department experiences 🏥🚨

🗓️ Online session // Tues 25th March

#AutRes
March 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
kimmears.bsky.social
youtube.com/watch?v=l8ns...
Was compiling a workshop and rewatched this from last year. It’s brilliant. Thank you @yesthattoo.bsky.social
Explore The Land of Autistic Communication
YouTube video by AssistiveWare
youtube.com
March 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
gavrobstew.bsky.social
Our new qualitative paper exploring similarities and differences in quality of life of autistic/non-autistic folk in midlife and older age (led by 2 former students, with @proffrancescahappe.bsky.social and @goldage.bsky.social) is now out!

Free access here: doi.org/10.1016/j.re...

#AutRes

1/8
March 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Kim Mears
commonsenseslt.bsky.social
a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com/2025/03/defi... Every individual within a community matters to the 'being' of that community. A community that others and excludes one of its members, is not a community at all.
Defining the meaning of community, or when no one should be cast adrift!
Organisations that profess to represent a given community must at all costs work to include all voices within that community. Mattering is a...
a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com
March 7, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Reposted by Kim Mears
commonsenseslt.bsky.social
After years of trauma for my Autistic teen at physical schools, mainstream & specialist, & for us as a family, we have all benefited from education from home. Recently, he put into words why this was important & shared the idea of his ‘fuel bubble’.
a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-f...
My Fuel Bubble
After years of traumatic experiences for my Autistic teen at physical schools, mainstream and specialist, and for us as a family, we have ...
a-labour-of-moles.blogspot.com
March 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
autisticality.bsky.social
A new series of condensed versions of my infographics. I hope people will find useful. This is one is about Autistic Experience - what it is, what it's not & what it "looks like".

#autism #autistic #neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #neurodiverse #neurodiversity #AutisticExperience #AutisticJoy
What is Autistic Experience? To be Autistic is to experience communication, the sensory world, thinking and social interactions differently from non-Autistic people. An Autistic person is innately neurodivergent. What is it not? An Autistic person is NOT disordered or ill (we need no cure!). Everyone is NOT 'a little bit Autistic'. Autistic experiences are NOT made up for attention. Autistic people and their experiences are NOT all the same. There is no singular look or presentation of an Autistic person - each is different!
February 24, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
autisticality.bsky.social
Masking - what is it, what it might look like, what the impacts are and what helps

#autism #autistic #neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #AutisticAcceptance #adhd #MentalHealthAwareness #neurodiverse #neuroqueer #neurokin #AutisticAppreciation #neurodiversity #neurodivergence #AutisticExperience
Alt text: "Masking is when you project an 'acceptable' version of one's self as an unconscious response to trauma. Masking can include: forcing eye contact, suppressing stims, copying social cues, hiding sensory discomfort, forcing mouth words or refraining from talking about interests. Masking can negatively impact Autistic people since it is draining and often leads to burnout. It can make someone lose their true identity trying to be who they are not or make you feel as though you are not good enough as you are. Sadly, people will always discriminate and judge. The best thing to do is to surround yourself with people you feel safe with who you can be your true self around. Remember you are amazing as you are and do not need to change for anyone!" Alt text ends.
February 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
autisticality.bsky.social
Autistic Overwhelm, what is it, why might someone be overwhelmed, what it leads to and what helps.

#autism #autistic #neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #adhd #MentalHealthAwareness #neurodiverse #neurodiversity #neurodivergence #AutisticExperience #AutisticJoy #overwhelm #autisticoverwhelm
"Everyone can become overwhelmed by it is much more common for Autistic people due to experiencing the world in a different way, whether mentally, emotionally, especially in terms of sensory experiences. Someone might be overwhelmed due to sensory sensitivities, being asked too many questions/demands, things going wrong or because something has changed. It leads to meltdowns, shutdowns, increased anxiety, increased sadness and increased irritability. Each person is different but some things that help are stopping/reducing sensory triggers, giving time and space to recover, provide reassurance/stims and reducing the pressure of the situation."
March 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
thementalelf.bsky.social
Need help to take the first steps?

This paper looks at an experience-centred approach to change.

McGreevy et al (full text PDF): dspace.stir.ac.uk/retrieve/0a1...

#NATPmentalhealth
Why does promoting experience sensitive adaptations in therapy plans matter?
February 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
autisticality.bsky.social
Autistic meltdowns. What are they, what are the signs, what are the causes and what helps.

#autism #autistic #meltdowns #neurodivergent #meltdown #adhd #neurodiversity
"Meltdowns are external responses that are caused by being overwhelmed and can occur for both Autistic children AND adults. Meltdowns are not tantrums. Signs include anger, crying, self-harm, shouting or involuntary body movements. Causes include: Overwhelm from sensory overload or increased demands Exhaustion (e.g. from excessive masking) Changes (in routine, environments etc.) Difficulty navigating a social situation/relationship Feelings of rejection sensitivity Everyone deals with meltdowns in their own way so ask the person what helps them most. Try to work out triggers for meltdowns to prevent them from happening in the first place. Do NOT punish or shame someone for having a meltdown." Alt text ends
March 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
autisticality.bsky.social
I am an Autistic person. I cannot locate "autism" anywhere inside of me. It is who I am and there is nothing wrong with that. (if you are Autistic and you prefer being called a person with autism then that is your choice).

#autism #autistic #autisticexperience #autisticpride #autisticjoy
4 potato characters. 1 saying "suffers from autism", 1 saying "on the spectrum", 1 saying "person with autism" and a rainbow potato saying "Autistic potato"
March 4, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Kim Mears
stimpunks.org
Weird Pride Day is tomorrow.

Our Weird Pride Day celebration is tomorrow in our community Discord. Bring your stories, interests, stims, fashion, mobility devices, & sparklies. Let’s march forth on March Fourth and be proudly weird despite neuronormative domination.
Celebrate Weird Pride Day 2025 with Stimpunks
The 4th of March is Weird Pride Day. This is a day for people to embrace their weirdness, and reject the stigma associated with being weird. To publicly express pride in the things that make us…
stimpunks.org
March 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM