Dr Melissa Chapple
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melissachapple.bsky.social
Dr Melissa Chapple
@melissachapple.bsky.social
1.4K followers 370 following 22 posts
Primary Care and Mental Health lecturer at University of Liverpool. Autistic academic with ADHD. Interested in the wellbeing and social inclusion of autistic and ADHD adults. #AuDHD
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
johnharris1969.bsky.social
Latest from me: on overdiagnosis, a craze/bandwagon the govt is indulging by commissioning an official review, complete with the clunky blurring of mental illness & neurodivergence www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it | John Harris
Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
audhd-psychnp.com
If you're a non-Autistic person
& an Autistic person is telling you about something they experience, or struggle with,
and it resonates with you...

PLEASE,
🚫 Don't say: "Well, we're all a little Autistic."

✅ Do say: "I find that relatable!"

we are asking you nicely, plz plz stop saying that.
December 15, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
kathyleadbitter.bsky.social
📣 Post-doc position
Are you passionate about improving care for people with a learning disability? Come and work with us!
Details 👇
Feel free to dm to discuss.
Please share!

www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
Research Associate on the ‘ICALD’ study:Manchester
The post requires experience of conducting recruitment and data collection in large studies and previous experience of working with or supporting people with learning disabilities and/or people that care for them and support them.
www.jobs.manchester.ac.uk
September 9, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
ka81.bsky.social
Ok @beilinglaoshi.bsky.social made it back thread of AI detection bias for staff development at universities :

First up one of the older studies its a good one.

backstage.anthology.com/sites/defaul...
AI is bias with EAL and ND students
August 15, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
finnattentive.bsky.social
#ADHD IS NOT becoming more common

"Lead researcher Dr Alex Martin said it was likely to be a case of under-diagnosis of the condition in the first place."

That is what we ourselves keep saying. There are a lot of adults around the world struggling, not being recognised as ADHDers.

#ADHDAcceptance
Greater awareness behind ADHD surge, study suggests
Study found ADHD is not becoming more common, despite a surge in people being diagnosed.
www.bbc.com
June 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
theautismhub.bsky.social
WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT! 🎨

Congratulations to Liverpool Autism Hub art competition winners!

A huge thank you to everyone who entered this competition - all the entries were beautifully done.

If you would like to see all of the entries, please follow the link: livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
April 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
We've had more interest since posting here, but are still short on autistic men and gender minority groups

Please consider reposting to your networks
melissachapple.bsky.social Dr Melissa Chapple @melissachapple.bsky.social · Mar 19
📢 We are recruiting for the photovoice study detailed below

We especially need:
Autistic men
Autistic people from gender minority groups
Autistic people from global majority/racialised minority backgrounds

Screening link: livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Please share!
A University of Liverpool research project advert. The advert asks if you are an autistic adult (over 18) who enjoys photography. We are looking for 8 autistic adults to co-produce a research project with us. One side details who can take part: autistic people over 18, fluent in English, not accessing secondary mental health services currently and no profound and multiple learning disability as defined by the NHS. The other side explains there will be 3 focus groups lasting 1 hour each and 1 one-to-one hour long interview using photographs and co-produced questions. There will then be 3 lots of independent work lasting 2 hours at a time. This will total 10 hours work which will be paid at £25 per hour in line with NIHR guidelines.
March 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
📢 We are recruiting for the photovoice study detailed below

We especially need:
Autistic men
Autistic people from gender minority groups
Autistic people from global majority/racialised minority backgrounds

Screening link: livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Please share!
A University of Liverpool research project advert. The advert asks if you are an autistic adult (over 18) who enjoys photography. We are looking for 8 autistic adults to co-produce a research project with us. One side details who can take part: autistic people over 18, fluent in English, not accessing secondary mental health services currently and no profound and multiple learning disability as defined by the NHS. The other side explains there will be 3 focus groups lasting 1 hour each and 1 one-to-one hour long interview using photographs and co-produced questions. There will then be 3 lots of independent work lasting 2 hours at a time. This will total 10 hours work which will be paid at £25 per hour in line with NIHR guidelines.
March 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
theautismhub.bsky.social
CALLING ALL @liverpooluni.bsky.social NEURODIVERGENT STAFF AND STUDENTS!

The Liverpool Autism Hub is running an art competition for Neurodiversity Awareness Week!

We are so excited to see all of the creativity! How to enter:
livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
March 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
We need a few more participants for this study, please consider sharing with your networks

Erin is also having a bit of an email issue, so please check your junk email if you sign up and don't hear back
melissachapple.bsky.social Dr Melissa Chapple @melissachapple.bsky.social · Oct 18
Erin, a 3rd year student whose project I'm supervising, is looking for autistic women in the UK to discuss their post-diagnostic experiences

The full eligibility criteria and sign up is available here: qualtricsxmcvmfqqjlj.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Sharing appreciated!
A University of Liverpool research advertisement for the project ‘Post-Diagnostic Support for Autistic Women: An Exploration of Support Needs and Existing Provisions.'The advert explains that eligible participants will be asked to take part in a 40-60 minute online interview with the researcher about their support needs and post-diagnostic experiences. You can email Erin for more details on hlegallw@liverpool.ac.uk
March 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
We really need a few more participants who were diagnosed as autistic in childhood. Please consider sharing with your networks!
Uni of Liverpool research study poster for the project 'Exploring masking experiences between childhood-diagnosed and adulthood-diagnosed autistic adults' the poster emphasises we are looking for autistic people over 18. The study involves a screening questionnaire and an online interview taking around 40 minutes. Contact hlcwll29@liverpool.ac.uk for more details. Alternatively, there's a QR code on the lower right. The investigators are Connie Wilson and Dr Melissa Chapple
February 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
theautismhub.bsky.social
Please read below a blog about our latest Autism Hub event:
www.liverpool.ac.uk/health-and-l...
Becoming an Autism Friendly University | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences | University of Liverpool linkedinyoutubeThe Original RedbrickUniversity of Liverpool on FacebookLivUni on InstagramL...
www.liverpool.ac.uk
February 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
theautismhub.bsky.social
Read what our attendees think of our Autism Hub!
On the top of the page is The Liverpool Autism Hub logo in a white font on a green background. Below this are 2 quotes from attendees of our latest Autism Hub.
February 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
One of the most bothersome parts of house hunting is how full the online advice is of 'stay away from council housing' followed by tons of stereotypes. As someone who grew up in it and loved it, I had no idea how horrific the stigma was about social housing in the UK. It's shamefully disgusting
February 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
Didn't know where to begin with ADHD reading after diagnosis, but I started here and can't recommend it enough! It's half book, half neurodivergent life planner! It blends research, theory, lived experiences and advice to offer a bit of everything in an ADHD-inclusive format
Picture of the book 'The ADHD Focus Friend: A Planning and Productivity Workbook' by Grace Koelma. It's a very light pink book with black and red writing on the front, and a colourful drawing of a pink-haired woman curled up on an armchair with a black cat, reading a book while listening to something through headphones.
January 23, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
rhiannoncor.bsky.social
This is me, here looking for connections. Love to connect with folk interested in living environment and its impact on us. On understanding the experiences of mental health and wellbeing and public mental health. Also a wildlife, wild spaces and environmental enthusiast.
January 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
Never in my existence did I think I'd overhear someone unironically say 'but it's a spectrum though isn't it' in response to someone pointing out the glaringly obvious fact that autism doesn't lead to nazi salutes but here we are...
January 23, 2025 at 12:59 AM
melissachapple.bsky.social
Still caught in a cycle of not knowing what to post here yet so sharing a video from my Instagram account on the sheer neurodivergent joy of this projector which I am currently obsessed with (it's Govee if anyone is curious)
December 16, 2024 at 3:32 AM
melissachapple.bsky.social
📢 We are recruiting autistic and ADHD participants (see attached poster for details). Can be diagnosed or awaiting assessment.

For this study AuDHDers are excluded, as we're looking at people with autism OR ADHD, but AuDHD research will follow soon

Sharing appreciated!
A University of Liverpool research advertisement looking for a) adults who are ADHD but not autistic and b) adults who are autistic but not ADHD. The advert explains the study involves an online interview, where participants will be asked about their neurodivergent condition and specifically about attention, social experiences, sensory and educational needs with an exploration of stigma. Participants must be over 18, and can either have a diagnosis or be pursuing one and must speak fluent English. Participants are excluded from this project if they are autistic and have ADHD too. This project is a continuation of work from last year ran by Felicity Chilton, so participants who already took part shouldn't reapply. The researchers are Charlotte Burton, Felicity Chilton and Melissa Chapple. Interested individuals should email Charlotte on hlcbart2@liverpool.ac.uk
December 13, 2024 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
itsemilykaty.bsky.social
New blog post: an autistic guide to Christmas!

Let’s see how Bluesky compares to the other place that barely showed these blog links 🙃

www.authenticallyemily.uk/blog/an-auti...
An Autistic Guide to Christmas — Authentically Emily
Some people love Christmas and some people hate it. I imagine most of us who celebrate fall somewhere in the middle. There have been Christmases where I’ve felt so excited and full of joy. There was a...
www.authenticallyemily.uk
December 12, 2024 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
veganrick.bsky.social
What went wrong with autism research? Let’s start with lab mice.

#AnimalTesting #Autism #Health
#Children #AnimalResearch #AnimalWelfare #Science #Vivisection #AnimalRights #EndAnimalTesting

www.vox.com/future-perfe...
There’s no such thing as an autistic mouse
Animal models of autism haven’t helped autistic people enough. So why do scientists still use them?
www.vox.com
November 26, 2024 at 12:33 AM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
jopavlopoulou.bsky.social
Our team is collecting data on autistic wellbeing, masking and social media- if you are #autistic pls consider taking part
redcap.idhs.ucl.ac.uk/surveys/?s=9...
Exploring potential benefits of social media in an autistic adult population.
redcap.idhs.ucl.ac.uk
November 26, 2024 at 9:20 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
The next Liverpool Autism Hub event will be December 6th from 10.30am and will look at autism inclusive campus spaces

Event is hybrid, so share widely. Link to sign up to either in-person or online is here:
livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
An advert for the Liverpool Autism Hub at the University of Liverpool, Institute of Population Health. The advert is green, with a navy blue strip at the bottom containing the University logo in white. Advert details that the hub is open to everyone looking to learn about autism and aims to be a safe space. The next event is Friday 6 December 10.30 until 13.30, at the School of Law and Social Justice for in-person attendance. The event will include how University campuses can become autism-inclusive, a discussion of our recent research, a discussion of what matters to you and what you'd like to see us research. The event is also a chance to meet like-minded people. The advert contains a QR sign up code, the link in the post can be used for the same purpose.
November 22, 2024 at 8:14 PM
melissachapple.bsky.social
I'm Melissa and I won't get into Uni of Liverpool (did all my degrees there, now I work there...)
zjayres.bsky.social Dr Zoë Ayres @zjayres.bsky.social · Nov 20
Introduce yourself with your worst feedback from school 👇

I'm Zoë, I won't go far
November 20, 2024 at 10:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Melissa Chapple
misshalcyon.bsky.social
Courtesy of @autisticbooks.bsky.social, I have picked out 12 books by Autistic authors you should totally read for 2025!

We've got great picks like...

- Stories of Autistic Joy
- Atypical Love (about ND love)
- Lavender Clouds (about Autism + ADHD + mental health)
- and more!

bit.ly/4fGcOGE
12 Months of Autistic Books by Autistic Authors for 2025
Want to read Autistic authors more this year? We’ve got one for every month of 2025!Reading books is a fantastic habit to have, but what about broadening your horizons to include specifically Autistic...
www.theautisticadult.org
November 20, 2024 at 1:38 PM