Laurene Fontan
@laurenefontan.bsky.social
Peer Researcher, past Research Coordinator, Steering group member 🧠 neuroscience and biology 🧬 EAPD facilitator 🐎 neuro complexity, autism, trauma. Professional fly on the wall that's pretty good at creating change!
Reposted by Laurene Fontan
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
So this year has not been kind hence my absence from this space and others. I need to find a new job so I can pivot which is proving to be no easy task so reaching out to the people I know on here. Ideally looking for 6-12 month contract part time and must be remote. Open to different roles.
December 1, 2025 at 9:31 PM
So this year has not been kind hence my absence from this space and others. I need to find a new job so I can pivot which is proving to be no easy task so reaching out to the people I know on here. Ideally looking for 6-12 month contract part time and must be remote. Open to different roles.
I work in preliminary research and this year has felt different. It feels like being tasked with feeding 50 people with the 1 dominoes pizza the Gov has ordered. And having to do research on how to distribute the crumbs!
June 15, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I work in preliminary research and this year has felt different. It feels like being tasked with feeding 50 people with the 1 dominoes pizza the Gov has ordered. And having to do research on how to distribute the crumbs!
Horses have a wonderful way of reaching children and young people and often at a faster rate than more traditional therapies. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Horse charity calls on NHS to fund child wellbeing services
Horses for Wellbeing says the funding would see children get help before they
www.bbc.co.uk
May 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Horses have a wonderful way of reaching children and young people and often at a faster rate than more traditional therapies. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Feels like the "Nervous System" has become the new thing and everyone wants a piece of the pie! Without the in-depth knowledge required. You can't breathe, chant or exercise your way to a regulated nervous system. It's not 'one' thing!
March 3, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Feels like the "Nervous System" has become the new thing and everyone wants a piece of the pie! Without the in-depth knowledge required. You can't breathe, chant or exercise your way to a regulated nervous system. It's not 'one' thing!
Anyone have access to Taylor & Francis and can grab me a paper? 🙏🏻
February 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Anyone have access to Taylor & Francis and can grab me a paper? 🙏🏻
Reposted by Laurene Fontan
For those playing along at home, the autism assessment waiting list in England is now *bigger than Glastonbury*.
digital.nhs.uk/data-and-inf...
digital.nhs.uk/data-and-inf...
Autism Statistics, January 2024 to December 2024 - NHS England Digital
Autism statistics; waiting times; autism diagnosis; autism referral; diagnostic pathways; autism; Wait between referral and first care contact for patients with suspected autism; Wait between referral...
digital.nhs.uk
February 13, 2025 at 1:48 PM
For those playing along at home, the autism assessment waiting list in England is now *bigger than Glastonbury*.
digital.nhs.uk/data-and-inf...
digital.nhs.uk/data-and-inf...
Been covering lots of teaching material on trauma lately and we really need to stop presenting complex trauma and C-PTSD as simply 'more trauma' than single event trauma/PTSD. It creates massive gaps in understanding and people fall through those gaps!
February 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Been covering lots of teaching material on trauma lately and we really need to stop presenting complex trauma and C-PTSD as simply 'more trauma' than single event trauma/PTSD. It creates massive gaps in understanding and people fall through those gaps!
My colleagues will know that I'll give the meeting a point if it doesn't have one! 😂🤓
February 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
My colleagues will know that I'll give the meeting a point if it doesn't have one! 😂🤓
🚨Help finding a resource required 🚨 Does anyone in my network know of charities that provides support for adults experiencing online harassment?
#OnlineHarassment #OnlineBullying
#OnlineHarassment #OnlineBullying
January 23, 2025 at 9:19 PM
🚨Help finding a resource required 🚨 Does anyone in my network know of charities that provides support for adults experiencing online harassment?
#OnlineHarassment #OnlineBullying
#OnlineHarassment #OnlineBullying
Reposted by Laurene Fontan
Hello!
My team are hiring two facilitating trainers to co-deliver Oliver McGowan autism and learning disability training across north London.
⏰ 20 hours per week, 9-month fixed term contract
💷 NHS band 6 with outer HCAS
📆 Apply by 26th January 2025
www.nhsjobs.com/job/UK/Londo...
My team are hiring two facilitating trainers to co-deliver Oliver McGowan autism and learning disability training across north London.
⏰ 20 hours per week, 9-month fixed term contract
💷 NHS band 6 with outer HCAS
📆 Apply by 26th January 2025
www.nhsjobs.com/job/UK/Londo...
Job vacancy: Oliver McGowan Facilitating Trainer, 306 North London NHS Foundation Trust, London | trac.jobs
www.nhsjobs.com
January 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Hello!
My team are hiring two facilitating trainers to co-deliver Oliver McGowan autism and learning disability training across north London.
⏰ 20 hours per week, 9-month fixed term contract
💷 NHS band 6 with outer HCAS
📆 Apply by 26th January 2025
www.nhsjobs.com/job/UK/Londo...
My team are hiring two facilitating trainers to co-deliver Oliver McGowan autism and learning disability training across north London.
⏰ 20 hours per week, 9-month fixed term contract
💷 NHS band 6 with outer HCAS
📆 Apply by 26th January 2025
www.nhsjobs.com/job/UK/Londo...
"All must refer back to the behemoth of the community mental health team, and if they need you to not be sick, then you are not sick, and no amount of concerned professionals, family and friends, or members of the public can convince them otherwise."
Nobody could help me with my psychosis. Then I was sent to jail for holding up a shop with a toy gun
I didn’t remember committing my crime but I knew I had fallen through the cracks of the system. Could prison really be my salvation?
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2025 at 7:38 PM
"All must refer back to the behemoth of the community mental health team, and if they need you to not be sick, then you are not sick, and no amount of concerned professionals, family and friends, or members of the public can convince them otherwise."
Reposted by Laurene Fontan
Trauma is going to try to tell us we "choose" our symptoms-- but that's like saying a bone "chooses" to break. We CAN choose how we manage & care for symptoms-- whether we give our "bone breaks" a chance to heal, or try to keep using those limbs because they "shouldn't" hurt.
January 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Trauma is going to try to tell us we "choose" our symptoms-- but that's like saying a bone "chooses" to break. We CAN choose how we manage & care for symptoms-- whether we give our "bone breaks" a chance to heal, or try to keep using those limbs because they "shouldn't" hurt.
Single event trauma responses can be loud they are the scream "HELP ME" but with repeated trauma things are very different, it's the whisper "I don't trust you, or anything...".
January 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Single event trauma responses can be loud they are the scream "HELP ME" but with repeated trauma things are very different, it's the whisper "I don't trust you, or anything...".
If you were attacked by a bear once, you would respond to the bear in one way, but if you had to live with the bear. Your response to the bear would be very different. Yet, everyone expects you to respond to the bear like you'd only been attacked once!
January 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM
If you were attacked by a bear once, you would respond to the bear in one way, but if you had to live with the bear. Your response to the bear would be very different. Yet, everyone expects you to respond to the bear like you'd only been attacked once!
When it comes to regression in those with autism and in Down syndrome etc we need to think brain inflammation and burnout. And they need to be screened for catatonia. Often the initial signs are missed and labelled behavioural.
January 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
When it comes to regression in those with autism and in Down syndrome etc we need to think brain inflammation and burnout. And they need to be screened for catatonia. Often the initial signs are missed and labelled behavioural.
Seems children actually come second to the budget deficit!
That this approach to supporting children with SEND also happens to help plug their giant financial deficit is, presumably, a complete coincidence.
The CEO of a school trust has apparently found the answer to SEND needs— and it’s not TAs, so he won’t need them. Not sure what it is though… This is Mossbourne, the trust accused of a "toxic culture" towards their pupils - www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/...
January 13, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Seems children actually come second to the budget deficit!
Reposted by Laurene Fontan
Incidentally, autistic people and families have been waiting for the Government to get round to *our* research action plan for three and a half years now.
In the meantime, the waiting list for diagnosis has trebled, support is still non-existent, and inpatient detention is still all too frequent.
In the meantime, the waiting list for diagnosis has trebled, support is still non-existent, and inpatient detention is still all too frequent.
Today at work I threw a birthday party for the Government's Autism Strategy commitment to produce an action plan for autism research "within the first year".
The cake turned out nice, but a strategic funding initiative for research to meet autistic people's most urgent support needs would be nicer.
The cake turned out nice, but a strategic funding initiative for research to meet autistic people's most urgent support needs would be nicer.
January 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Incidentally, autistic people and families have been waiting for the Government to get round to *our* research action plan for three and a half years now.
In the meantime, the waiting list for diagnosis has trebled, support is still non-existent, and inpatient detention is still all too frequent.
In the meantime, the waiting list for diagnosis has trebled, support is still non-existent, and inpatient detention is still all too frequent.
Reposted by Laurene Fontan
I'm quite enjoying the genre of autism research that's just checking what autistic people say is happening for us, and then putting it in a peer-reviewed journal.
Like, it sounds trivial, but this is genuinely how a lot of the most useful research on things that actually matter to us is happening.
Like, it sounds trivial, but this is genuinely how a lot of the most useful research on things that actually matter to us is happening.
January 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I'm quite enjoying the genre of autism research that's just checking what autistic people say is happening for us, and then putting it in a peer-reviewed journal.
Like, it sounds trivial, but this is genuinely how a lot of the most useful research on things that actually matter to us is happening.
Like, it sounds trivial, but this is genuinely how a lot of the most useful research on things that actually matter to us is happening.
It's barely recognised by the public that autistic children grow into autistic adults, never mind that those adults become elderly! Research like this is much needed and acknowledging the entire lifespan of a person and how their experiences and needs change over that time.
January 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It's barely recognised by the public that autistic children grow into autistic adults, never mind that those adults become elderly! Research like this is much needed and acknowledging the entire lifespan of a person and how their experiences and needs change over that time.
Lots of discussion around this at the moment. Whilst I support regulation I don't believe that it's the 'fix' it's being made out to be. All the things in this article have and do happen at the hands of qualified and regulated therapists.
‘A therapist shouldn’t be giving you hugs’: readers share bad counselling experiences
From inappropriate behaviour to encouraging patients to stop medication, reckless therapists can cause real damage
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Lots of discussion around this at the moment. Whilst I support regulation I don't believe that it's the 'fix' it's being made out to be. All the things in this article have and do happen at the hands of qualified and regulated therapists.
Wishing all my colleagues and those I've connected with a Happy Christmas! Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and peaceful festive period, and all the very best for the New Year.
December 24, 2024 at 9:59 PM
Wishing all my colleagues and those I've connected with a Happy Christmas! Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and peaceful festive period, and all the very best for the New Year.
No wonder so many people see biopsychosocial as pseudoscience when it gets butchered and misconstrued so frequently!!
December 21, 2024 at 7:52 PM
No wonder so many people see biopsychosocial as pseudoscience when it gets butchered and misconstrued so frequently!!
Reposted by Laurene Fontan
Really interesting paper on gender disparities in autism coverage in British newspapers.
Grim finding: a significant subset of the "autistic girls" articles were about gender transition and misgendered those involved. Which also means there's *even less* coverage of autistic girls than it appears.
Grim finding: a significant subset of the "autistic girls" articles were about gender transition and misgendered those involved. Which also means there's *even less* coverage of autistic girls than it appears.
My very first post here :)
NEW follow-up paper from our
@britishacademy.bsky.social
Leverhulme project on Attitudes toward Autism in British Newspapers now #openaccess in
@journalautism.bsky.social !
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... Summary below: 🧵1/11
NEW follow-up paper from our
@britishacademy.bsky.social
Leverhulme project on Attitudes toward Autism in British Newspapers now #openaccess in
@journalautism.bsky.social !
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... Summary below: 🧵1/11
December 16, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Really interesting paper on gender disparities in autism coverage in British newspapers.
Grim finding: a significant subset of the "autistic girls" articles were about gender transition and misgendered those involved. Which also means there's *even less* coverage of autistic girls than it appears.
Grim finding: a significant subset of the "autistic girls" articles were about gender transition and misgendered those involved. Which also means there's *even less* coverage of autistic girls than it appears.
"I don't know what to do with you!" If you've ever had a med/mh professional say this to you how did it impact? Whilst, I think honesty is important, I also think this sentence too often destroys any hope left in the patient.
December 14, 2024 at 6:34 PM
"I don't know what to do with you!" If you've ever had a med/mh professional say this to you how did it impact? Whilst, I think honesty is important, I also think this sentence too often destroys any hope left in the patient.