Sara Rocha
@sara-rocha.bsky.social
Autistic & disabled queer advocate | Disability advocacy, Data and policy | Public Health data nerd | #EndForcedSterilisation | breakingthesilenceongaza.org | From Portugal, living in the UK
Being pregnant or being a mom while having disabilities, in a time of eugenics and in a country (Portugal) where forced sterilisation is still legal.. it's revolutionary. Our body is revolution. Let's #EndForcedSterilisation and fight for our sexual and reproductive rights 🌟
May 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Being pregnant or being a mom while having disabilities, in a time of eugenics and in a country (Portugal) where forced sterilisation is still legal.. it's revolutionary. Our body is revolution. Let's #EndForcedSterilisation and fight for our sexual and reproductive rights 🌟
It's almost funny that the NHS Audiology department, whom I contacted due to my hearing aids and hearing loss, sent me an email about how they tried to contact me.. by phone. I'm partially deaf and struggle with calls. Even some emergency health services, there is no accessible option.
May 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It's almost funny that the NHS Audiology department, whom I contacted due to my hearing aids and hearing loss, sent me an email about how they tried to contact me.. by phone. I'm partially deaf and struggle with calls. Even some emergency health services, there is no accessible option.
The dehumanisation and eugenic ideals against autistic people are palpable. He doesn't care about people with higher support needs and no offer of services and support is on the table. Only to erase us.
WATCH | RFK Jr claims autistic children will never go on dates or pay taxes
Read the recent CDC autism report here: www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Read the recent CDC autism report here: www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
April 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The dehumanisation and eugenic ideals against autistic people are palpable. He doesn't care about people with higher support needs and no offer of services and support is on the table. Only to erase us.
Besides being an advocate and running an autistic self-advocacy, my paid work is actually in the University of Cambridge in cardiovascular research. Sharing a bit of a project we've worked for quite some time: www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Simple £5 blood test could help prevent thousands of heart attacks, study says
Researchers suggest troponin tests could help detect ‘silent’ harm and predict the risk of future cardiovascular events
www.theguardian.com
April 9, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Besides being an advocate and running an autistic self-advocacy, my paid work is actually in the University of Cambridge in cardiovascular research. Sharing a bit of a project we've worked for quite some time: www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
As a queer disabled woman who identifies within the spectrum of assexuality, it does not surprise me that transphobic people easily start expanding their hate towards us and other LGBTQIA+ groups. If you don't protect trans lives and rights, they are coming for you next.
April 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM
As a queer disabled woman who identifies within the spectrum of assexuality, it does not surprise me that transphobic people easily start expanding their hate towards us and other LGBTQIA+ groups. If you don't protect trans lives and rights, they are coming for you next.
Just saw an occupational therapist using Autism Day to try to sell unproven therapies such as phototherapy and stem-cells therapy to "improve your children's abilities", even though there is no scientific evidence it works and we don't know long term health impact. This is predatory behaviour.
April 2, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Just saw an occupational therapist using Autism Day to try to sell unproven therapies such as phototherapy and stem-cells therapy to "improve your children's abilities", even though there is no scientific evidence it works and we don't know long term health impact. This is predatory behaviour.
Today is Autism Acceptance Day. It's a day when a lot of non-autistic voices tend to drown our real needs and priorities. We need autistic voices to be prioritised and centred in policy, services and organisations. Please donate to autistic-led organisations today if you can.
April 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Today is Autism Acceptance Day. It's a day when a lot of non-autistic voices tend to drown our real needs and priorities. We need autistic voices to be prioritised and centred in policy, services and organisations. Please donate to autistic-led organisations today if you can.
Reposted by Sara Rocha
ENIL co-chair Nadia Had at the Global Disability Summit: “Inclusion doesn’t mean investing in special schools, day-care centres, small group homes, sheltered workshops; all financing should be UNCRPD compliant”
April 2, 2025 at 10:55 AM
ENIL co-chair Nadia Had at the Global Disability Summit: “Inclusion doesn’t mean investing in special schools, day-care centres, small group homes, sheltered workshops; all financing should be UNCRPD compliant”
Reposted by Sara Rocha
"I decided I'd rather die than be in isolation because of the mood it left me in.
"I felt alone and trapped at school for such a long time that I felt as though it would be best, as no-one seemed to care anyway." www.bbc.com/news/educati...
"I felt alone and trapped at school for such a long time that I felt as though it would be best, as no-one seemed to care anyway." www.bbc.com/news/educati...
‘I was put in a school isolation booth more than 240 times'
A teenager who tried to take her own life after months in a school isolation booth says she felt trapped.
www.bbc.com
April 1, 2025 at 11:53 AM
"I decided I'd rather die than be in isolation because of the mood it left me in.
"I felt alone and trapped at school for such a long time that I felt as though it would be best, as no-one seemed to care anyway." www.bbc.com/news/educati...
"I felt alone and trapped at school for such a long time that I felt as though it would be best, as no-one seemed to care anyway." www.bbc.com/news/educati...
Such a powerful show of empathy and support in Survivor when Eva, an autistic woman, started having a meltdown, and Joe, from the opposite team, helped her regulate. We need more of this type of representation on TV.
edition.cnn.com/2025/03/27/e...
edition.cnn.com/2025/03/27/e...
Moment of kindness between ‘Survivor’ contestants brings host Jeff Probst to tears | CNN
A moving moment shared between two contestants in latest episode of “Survivor” transcended the competition and brought host Jeff Probst to tears.
edition.cnn.com
April 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Such a powerful show of empathy and support in Survivor when Eva, an autistic woman, started having a meltdown, and Joe, from the opposite team, helped her regulate. We need more of this type of representation on TV.
edition.cnn.com/2025/03/27/e...
edition.cnn.com/2025/03/27/e...
Having a rare condition as a disabled woman is being unprepared for giving birth to my baby because doctors want us to make decisions, but I need a medical professional to tell me how to make me and my baby safe from complications I might have, but they just don't know. #hEDS #HSD
March 31, 2025 at 6:42 PM
How are there no consequences for such severe systemic abuse? These people are just going to move on to another institution and continue to abuse disabled children who are institutionalised. No accountability when the victims have disabilities. We failed as a society. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Staff accused of abusing children won't be charged
BBC found children were fed chilli flakes, left in soiled clothes and had vinegar poured on cuts.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
How are there no consequences for such severe systemic abuse? These people are just going to move on to another institution and continue to abuse disabled children who are institutionalised. No accountability when the victims have disabilities. We failed as a society. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
David Geier, a man accused of practicing medicine without a license, forging research data to try to prove a link between vaccines and autism, and who experimented with autistic children by giving them a castration drug Lupron is in charge of studying vaccines and autism. What is happening?
BREAKING: Anti-vaccine researcher David Geier has been chosen by RFK, Jr. to lead the government study on vaccines & autism.
Both Geier & his father have have published papers claiming vaccines increase risk of autism.
Geier was charged for practicing medicine without a license in May 2011.
Both Geier & his father have have published papers claiming vaccines increase risk of autism.
Geier was charged for practicing medicine without a license in May 2011.
Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism
A long-discredited researcher and vaccine skeptic will conduct a government study on whether vaccines cause autism.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 26, 2025 at 8:21 AM
David Geier, a man accused of practicing medicine without a license, forging research data to try to prove a link between vaccines and autism, and who experimented with autistic children by giving them a castration drug Lupron is in charge of studying vaccines and autism. What is happening?
It's incredible to see someone as amazing and talented as Bella Ramsey being openly autistic and nonbinary in an industry so discriminatory against disability. Representation is so important and there's less and less excuses to not cast autistic actors. www.vogue.co.uk/article/bell...
“There’s No Reason For People Not To Know”: Bella Ramsey Opens Up About Their Liberating Autism Diagnosis & The Epic New Season Of ‘The Last Of Us’
“The label of being autistic has been so helpful to me because that’s helped me to understand myself, but gender and sexuality-wise, labels do not feel comfy for me in any capacity, because I feel lik...
www.vogue.co.uk
March 20, 2025 at 12:54 PM
It's incredible to see someone as amazing and talented as Bella Ramsey being openly autistic and nonbinary in an industry so discriminatory against disability. Representation is so important and there's less and less excuses to not cast autistic actors. www.vogue.co.uk/article/bell...
In the UK and I was not yet even able to start my process to apply to PIP (disability benefits) since even the application is deeply inaccessible. The new @teamlabouruk.bsky.social cuts will make it even harder to pay for assistive devices to go to work in the first place and increase unemployment.
March 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
In the UK and I was not yet even able to start my process to apply to PIP (disability benefits) since even the application is deeply inaccessible. The new @teamlabouruk.bsky.social cuts will make it even harder to pay for assistive devices to go to work in the first place and increase unemployment.
The criminalisation of forced sterilisation in Portugal, including minors, was for the 1st time ever discussed in the Portuguese Parliament. The Government fell and the bill will have to go through next mandate, but this was an amazing step for our rights. Thank you @bloconoparlamento.bsky.social.
March 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The criminalisation of forced sterilisation in Portugal, including minors, was for the 1st time ever discussed in the Portuguese Parliament. The Government fell and the bill will have to go through next mandate, but this was an amazing step for our rights. Thank you @bloconoparlamento.bsky.social.
Reposted by Sara Rocha
Brand New Autism Research 2025.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
So, which interventions (psychological or social, not medications) improve quality of life for autistic young adults?
Er, after 100 years of research, it turns out we don't know.
👀
Not joking. Let's look/
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
So, which interventions (psychological or social, not medications) improve quality of life for autistic young adults?
Er, after 100 years of research, it turns out we don't know.
👀
Not joking. Let's look/
Psychosocial Interventions and Quality of Life in Autistic Young Adults: A Systematic Review - Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Autistic young adults often experience challenges in the transition to adulthood, including loss of childhood services and difficulties managing the complexities of adult life. Additionally, quality o...
link.springer.com
March 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Brand New Autism Research 2025.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
So, which interventions (psychological or social, not medications) improve quality of life for autistic young adults?
Er, after 100 years of research, it turns out we don't know.
👀
Not joking. Let's look/
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
So, which interventions (psychological or social, not medications) improve quality of life for autistic young adults?
Er, after 100 years of research, it turns out we don't know.
👀
Not joking. Let's look/
Reposted by Sara Rocha
Autistic children are being rejected by NHS mental health services, leaving families desperate for help.
📖 Read here: bit.ly/3RcEoAq
Emma Dalmayne, CEO of @aimautistic.bsky.social and ICARS Team member, shares her son Damien’s experience. 🧵👇
📖 Read here: bit.ly/3RcEoAq
Emma Dalmayne, CEO of @aimautistic.bsky.social and ICARS Team member, shares her son Damien’s experience. 🧵👇
Autistic teen says he was left feeling 'inhuman' after being rejected by NHS mental health services
Damien, who contemplated suicide due to his experiences, says he believes NHS services think autistic people can't engage effectively with therapy.
news.sky.com
March 15, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Autistic children are being rejected by NHS mental health services, leaving families desperate for help.
📖 Read here: bit.ly/3RcEoAq
Emma Dalmayne, CEO of @aimautistic.bsky.social and ICARS Team member, shares her son Damien’s experience. 🧵👇
📖 Read here: bit.ly/3RcEoAq
Emma Dalmayne, CEO of @aimautistic.bsky.social and ICARS Team member, shares her son Damien’s experience. 🧵👇
Auticorpos is a project we did in vozdoautista.pt which studied autistic people's experiences and barriers to access mental health services in Portugal and recommendations. See the results in eBook format, in English here: drive.google.com/file/d/1OfCu...
Voz do Autista – Voz do Autista
vozdoautista.pt
March 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Auticorpos is a project we did in vozdoautista.pt which studied autistic people's experiences and barriers to access mental health services in Portugal and recommendations. See the results in eBook format, in English here: drive.google.com/file/d/1OfCu...
The only thing it makes sense to me is that Trump is attempting to push other countries to start a war against the US so he can declare martial law and stay President.
And now Trump and declared a national emergency and and escalated trade war with Canada. A deranged madman is running the country. Trump is nuts too.
March 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM
The only thing it makes sense to me is that Trump is attempting to push other countries to start a war against the US so he can declare martial law and stay President.
Being ADHD and pregnant means I have baby brain times 1000. Not being able to take my ADHD medication, no caffeine, being exhausted, not sleeping properly due to pain.. every work or task is an effort. Sometimes almost painful. We need more support for pregnancy and motherhood.
March 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Being ADHD and pregnant means I have baby brain times 1000. Not being able to take my ADHD medication, no caffeine, being exhausted, not sleeping properly due to pain.. every work or task is an effort. Sometimes almost painful. We need more support for pregnancy and motherhood.
On #IWD, I want to share with you a report I wrote for @validityfoundation.bsky.social on their DIS-CONNECTED project examining violence against women with disabilities, access to justice and support services in the EU. Amazing project by Validity and partners! validity.ngo/2025/02/27/e...
Ending violence, ensuring inclusion: strengthening protections against gender-and disability-based violence - Validity Foundation - Mental Disability Advocacy Centre
ShareTweetAs the DIS-CONNECTED project comes to a close, we are releasing our reports and tools developed throughout the initiative. The project explored violence against women and children with disab...
validity.ngo
March 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
On #IWD, I want to share with you a report I wrote for @validityfoundation.bsky.social on their DIS-CONNECTED project examining violence against women with disabilities, access to justice and support services in the EU. Amazing project by Validity and partners! validity.ngo/2025/02/27/e...
On International Women's Day, I highlight the need for leadership of women with disabilities in all national and EU policies, strategies and legislation. We need to #EndForcedSterilisation and ensure sexual and reproductive rights. We need rights, not violence as "protection". Nothing without us!
March 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
On International Women's Day, I highlight the need for leadership of women with disabilities in all national and EU policies, strategies and legislation. We need to #EndForcedSterilisation and ensure sexual and reproductive rights. We need rights, not violence as "protection". Nothing without us!
Any law on sterilisation that allows legal guardians to make the decision for disabled people, will enforce forced sterilisation. Most cases I encountered, the legal guardian, either the family or institution, were involved. Criminalise forced sterilisation with only OUR consent!
March 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Any law on sterilisation that allows legal guardians to make the decision for disabled people, will enforce forced sterilisation. Most cases I encountered, the legal guardian, either the family or institution, were involved. Criminalise forced sterilisation with only OUR consent!
6 months pregnant and my unborn kid has already been in 4 countries and numerous meetings trying to fight for the rights of people with disabilities. I wouldn't be surprised at this point if his first words would be "CRPD" 😂
February 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
6 months pregnant and my unborn kid has already been in 4 countries and numerous meetings trying to fight for the rights of people with disabilities. I wouldn't be surprised at this point if his first words would be "CRPD" 😂