Prof Rosa Hoekstra
@rosahoekstra.bsky.social
Professor of developmental disabilities @KingsIoPPN. Co-leads https://www.thesparkproject.net/, editor of @journalautism.bsky.social
Migrant. Loves London, loves travel
Migrant. Loves London, loves travel
Amidst all the gloom, a genuine glorious reason to live in the UK: to attend a popular science gig and find a large theatre hall completely sold out www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/202...
Merlin Sheldrake - The Secret Lives of Fungi LIVE | Barbican
Join renowned biologist and bestselling author Merlin Sheldrake for a mind-expanding journey into the extraordinary world of fungi.
www.barbican.org.uk
October 20, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Amidst all the gloom, a genuine glorious reason to live in the UK: to attend a popular science gig and find a large theatre hall completely sold out www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/202...
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
Huh. If you say you’ll mess with indefinite leave to remain rules it turns out talented migrant workers start looking at their other options. This could never have been predicted!
on.ft.com/3JiZxbM
on.ft.com/3JiZxbM
Russian tech workers rethink UK ties after settlement rules change
Digital entrepreneurs turn to US in search of higher pay and opportunities in test of Labour plan to lure ‘global talent’
on.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Huh. If you say you’ll mess with indefinite leave to remain rules it turns out talented migrant workers start looking at their other options. This could never have been predicted!
on.ft.com/3JiZxbM
on.ft.com/3JiZxbM
This is bleak. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
AI-generated ‘poverty porn’ fake images being used by aid agencies
Exclusive: Pictures depicting the most vulnerable and poorest people are being used in social media campaigns in the sector, driven by concerns over consent and cost
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:07 AM
This is bleak. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Yesterday we said goodbye to lab member @jialingli.bsky.social who is moving back to China to take up a postdoc role. Jialing, you were an awesome PhD student and will be greatly missed in the GLADlab! London's loss is China's gain, I look forward to following all the fab things you will do next.
October 14, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Yesterday we said goodbye to lab member @jialingli.bsky.social who is moving back to China to take up a postdoc role. Jialing, you were an awesome PhD student and will be greatly missed in the GLADlab! London's loss is China's gain, I look forward to following all the fab things you will do next.
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
Awww. A good profile by Sirin Kale who personalises what a first or second gen interviewer can bring to the table.
‘To the men who ran the world, I was just a photo op’: Malala Yousafzai on growing up, getting cynical – and how getting high nearly broke her
‘To the men who ran the world, I was just a photo op’: Malala Yousafzai on growing up, getting cynical – and how getting high nearly broke her
The global icon of women’s education is ready to tell the full story of her turbulent recent life, from arguing with her parents to being ghosted by the statesmen who were once desperate to be seen with her
www.theguardian.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Awww. A good profile by Sirin Kale who personalises what a first or second gen interviewer can bring to the table.
Are you interested in studying longitudinal developmental trajectories of children with developmental disabilities in Ethiopia and Kenya? Please consider applying for a PhD! More information about the project is here: kcl-mrcdtp.com/project/2026... #AutRes
Longitudinal developmental trajectories of children with developmental disabilities in Ethiopia and Kenya - MRC DTP
Ethiopian and Kenyan children with developmental disabilities (including intellectual disability and autism) and their caregivers experience severe challenges including financial difficulties, stigma,...
kcl-mrcdtp.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Are you interested in studying longitudinal developmental trajectories of children with developmental disabilities in Ethiopia and Kenya? Please consider applying for a PhD! More information about the project is here: kcl-mrcdtp.com/project/2026... #AutRes
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
Neurodiversity is looking for a new Editor!
The deadline for expressions of interest is October 5th.
Full details are here journals.sagepub.com...
The deadline for expressions of interest is October 5th.
Full details are here journals.sagepub.com...
September 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Neurodiversity is looking for a new Editor!
The deadline for expressions of interest is October 5th.
Full details are here journals.sagepub.com...
The deadline for expressions of interest is October 5th.
Full details are here journals.sagepub.com...
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
Introducing slightly less cruel/damaging version of Farage's plans would not "outmanoeuvre Reform";would be an economic/ political own goal
Far better to attack Reform/Tories for Powellite ethnonationalism & say migrants who come here, contribute & *choose* to stay are welcome -and become British.
Far better to attack Reform/Tories for Powellite ethnonationalism & say migrants who come here, contribute & *choose* to stay are welcome -and become British.
The current Home Secretary who identifies as 'Blue Labour' was put in place precisely to outmanoeuvre Reform to the right on immigration so we can be fairly certain more costly and lengthy/conditional routes to citizenship will be announced in due course.
This excellent piece by @liamthorp.bsky.social focuses on Farage.
But as it correctly says, the much more immediate threat is that *Labour* will move the goalposts.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
But as it correctly says, the much more immediate threat is that *Labour* will move the goalposts.
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...
September 25, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Introducing slightly less cruel/damaging version of Farage's plans would not "outmanoeuvre Reform";would be an economic/ political own goal
Far better to attack Reform/Tories for Powellite ethnonationalism & say migrants who come here, contribute & *choose* to stay are welcome -and become British.
Far better to attack Reform/Tories for Powellite ethnonationalism & say migrants who come here, contribute & *choose* to stay are welcome -and become British.
Hello India and hello autism researchers, I will be in Delhi this week to speak at the #AOCCN2025 conference. I'll go straight from the airport to the autism pre conference workshop tomorrow afternoon, and will speak at the main conference on Saturday. Please come say hi! aoccn2025.in
September 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Hello India and hello autism researchers, I will be in Delhi this week to speak at the #AOCCN2025 conference. I'll go straight from the airport to the autism pre conference workshop tomorrow afternoon, and will speak at the main conference on Saturday. Please come say hi! aoccn2025.in
“They want our ideas. They just don’t want us.”
Kenyan 'shadow scholars' writing essays for UK university students
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Kenyan 'shadow scholars' writing essays for UK university students
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Inside the world of Kenya’s ‘shadow scholars’ paid to write essays for UK students
Highly educated Kenyans working for essay mills ghostwrite academic work that students pass off as their own
www.theguardian.com
September 14, 2025 at 4:26 PM
“They want our ideas. They just don’t want us.”
Kenyan 'shadow scholars' writing essays for UK university students
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Kenyan 'shadow scholars' writing essays for UK university students
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
One of my favourite things: koppie climbing
August 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
One of my favourite things: koppie climbing
Simon Kuper suggests it's bikes and kids' independence (yes!), I think being allowed hagelslag or nutella as sandwich topping two meals a day also helps
Why Unicef almost always concludes that Dutch children are the happiest in the world. Me on what makes a good childhood, based partly on having grown up in the Netherlands
@financialtimes.com on.ft.com/45o0cjh
@financialtimes.com on.ft.com/45o0cjh
The magic of childhood in the Netherlands
[FREE TO READ] And what other countries can learn from it
on.ft.com
August 17, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Simon Kuper suggests it's bikes and kids' independence (yes!), I think being allowed hagelslag or nutella as sandwich topping two meals a day also helps
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
The CRAE tech imp has been rewiring the Bluesky New Autism Research Feed. It trawls through posts and tries its best to find the latest papers for you.
Do PM us if there seem to be any glaring omissions as we syncopate the algorithm.
bsky.app/profile/did...
Do PM us if there seem to be any glaring omissions as we syncopate the algorithm.
bsky.app/profile/did...
July 31, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The CRAE tech imp has been rewiring the Bluesky New Autism Research Feed. It trawls through posts and tries its best to find the latest papers for you.
Do PM us if there seem to be any glaring omissions as we syncopate the algorithm.
bsky.app/profile/did...
Do PM us if there seem to be any glaring omissions as we syncopate the algorithm.
bsky.app/profile/did...
This is a great article that thoughtfully articulates differences of viewpoints from neurodivergent researchers studying neurodiversity. It helped me better understand what may underlie some of the vehement disagreements in autism research.
NEW PAPER (ish - I'm also just delayed) journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Using Q Methodology, a Group of Neurodivergent Neurodiversity Researchers Ask: What is the Neurodiversity Movement and what should it do?
Using Q Methodology, a Group of Neurodivergent Neurodiversity Researchers Ask: What is the Neurodiversity Movement and what should it do?
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
July 31, 2025 at 8:11 AM
This is a great article that thoughtfully articulates differences of viewpoints from neurodivergent researchers studying neurodiversity. It helped me better understand what may underlie some of the vehement disagreements in autism research.
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
What good parenting can look like: "Parents recognized that their [autistic] child's attempt to share their passion with their parent stemmed from a desire to connect, & parents found fulfillment when “he invites me into his world”: “the fact that he wants to share it [with me] is fulfilling for me”
Even if you're not into your autistic person's passions, you can follow along with them, and make them feel seen: "I wouldn’t be interested in those topics but then I know it's something that makes her happy […] you want to make your kids feel heard and happy."
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
“There is Nowhere Else That I’d Rather be Than with Them”: Parents’ Positive Experiences Parenting Autistic Children - Melanie Heyworth, Catherine McMahon, Diana Weiting Tan, Elizabeth Pellicano, 2025
Background and Aims A significant body of research focuses on the negative outcomes of parenting Autistic children, particularly when parents identify as non-Au...
journals.sagepub.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:19 AM
What good parenting can look like: "Parents recognized that their [autistic] child's attempt to share their passion with their parent stemmed from a desire to connect, & parents found fulfillment when “he invites me into his world”: “the fact that he wants to share it [with me] is fulfilling for me”
Copied from @nihr.bsky.social from the other side: this was a nice event hosted by the Kenya High Commission where NIHR funded health projects in Kenya presented their research findings and heard from the Kenyan MoH about their priorities. A great opportunity for researchers to meet policy makers
July 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Copied from @nihr.bsky.social from the other side: this was a nice event hosted by the Kenya High Commission where NIHR funded health projects in Kenya presented their research findings and heard from the Kenyan MoH about their priorities. A great opportunity for researchers to meet policy makers
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
“The way the secretary characterizes autism research, it’s as if nobody’s been doing anything for the last 30 years.” 🩺 🛟
At the annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, more than a dozen veteran researchers told John Donvan and Caren Zucker the same thing about the U.S. health secretary's approach to autism science: What he's doing is not good.
RFK Jr.’s Autism Time Machine
The health secretary’s approach to the condition gives the impression that two decades of research simply never happened.
bit.ly
July 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
“The way the secretary characterizes autism research, it’s as if nobody’s been doing anything for the last 30 years.” 🩺 🛟
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
And the UK directly contributed to this by making the choice to cut aid to balance the books (pretending the money went on defence instead), just as it was most needed.
Seems to have been largely forgotten in the discourse. It shouldn’t be.
Seems to have been largely forgotten in the discourse. It shouldn’t be.
Bill Gates quoted in the FT "for the first time in decades, the number of kids dying around the world will likely go up this year...because of massive cuts to foreign aid".
US withdrawing funding from the global vaccine alliance is the latest blow.
US withdrawing funding from the global vaccine alliance is the latest blow.
June 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
And the UK directly contributed to this by making the choice to cut aid to balance the books (pretending the money went on defence instead), just as it was most needed.
Seems to have been largely forgotten in the discourse. It shouldn’t be.
Seems to have been largely forgotten in the discourse. It shouldn’t be.
Thank you @wellcometrust.bsky.social for setting out the effects of the UK spending review for research so clearly. Funding for research in low-income countries is set to halve. The UK is a world leader in global health research collaborations. This spending decision puts that position at risk. 1/3
It's Spending Review day!
The Chancellor has announced £86bn for research over the next four years
A big number, particularly in the economic context...
...but it also amounts to a reduction in ambition.
Here's why 🎞
The Chancellor has announced £86bn for research over the next four years
A big number, particularly in the economic context...
...but it also amounts to a reduction in ambition.
Here's why 🎞
June 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Thank you @wellcometrust.bsky.social for setting out the effects of the UK spending review for research so clearly. Funding for research in low-income countries is set to halve. The UK is a world leader in global health research collaborations. This spending decision puts that position at risk. 1/3
Fellow humans, please stop driving cars with high bonnets. You don't look cool and you're more likely to kill others. www.transportenvironment.org/articles/eve...
June 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Fellow humans, please stop driving cars with high bonnets. You don't look cool and you're more likely to kill others. www.transportenvironment.org/articles/eve...
Learn more about the ground breaking #AutRes work our SPARK colleague Prof Amina Abubakar does in Kenya here: www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/ami...
Amina Abubakar translates autism research and care for Kenya
First an educator and now an internationally recognized researcher, the Kenyan psychologist is changing autism science and services in sub-Saharan Africa.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Learn more about the ground breaking #AutRes work our SPARK colleague Prof Amina Abubakar does in Kenya here: www.thetransmitter.org/spectrum/ami...
You can't ask migrants to integrate AND let them wait 10 years to acquire settled status. As @nesrinemalik.bsky.social explains these two are mutually exclusive.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I got British citizenship via the five-year route. Labour’s new 10-year rule will cause untold pain | Nesrine Malik
Starmer claims to want integration. Yet denying people safety, belonging and the right to vote for a decade amounts to the exact opposite, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
June 2, 2025 at 7:35 AM
You can't ask migrants to integrate AND let them wait 10 years to acquire settled status. As @nesrinemalik.bsky.social explains these two are mutually exclusive.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Prof Rosa Hoekstra
the mass killings people still don’t talk about:
since Trump took office, more than 50,000 adults and nearly 6,000 children have died from the withdrawal of HIV drugs.
Just imagine it: your kid is HIV + but healthy and happy and fine - and then suddenly, a far-flung racist takes their meds away
since Trump took office, more than 50,000 adults and nearly 6,000 children have died from the withdrawal of HIV drugs.
Just imagine it: your kid is HIV + but healthy and happy and fine - and then suddenly, a far-flung racist takes their meds away
May 30, 2025 at 7:11 AM
the mass killings people still don’t talk about:
since Trump took office, more than 50,000 adults and nearly 6,000 children have died from the withdrawal of HIV drugs.
Just imagine it: your kid is HIV + but healthy and happy and fine - and then suddenly, a far-flung racist takes their meds away
since Trump took office, more than 50,000 adults and nearly 6,000 children have died from the withdrawal of HIV drugs.
Just imagine it: your kid is HIV + but healthy and happy and fine - and then suddenly, a far-flung racist takes their meds away