#AECongress2025
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communication4all.bsky.social
Communication 4 ALL Executive Director Elizabeth Bonker answering questions after her presentation at the @autismeurope.bsky.social International Congress in Dublin. The auditorium was packed with researchers, teachers, therapists, parents, and allies. #aecongress2025
September 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
berengeredigard.bsky.social
‪Thank you to #AECongress2025 for the chance to present our (w @drrachaeldavis.bsky.social) work on the #Autism & #Bilingualism Hub autism-bilingualism.com
TY to all who came to chat after the talk,
& those who came by our #gender/ #masking/ #mentalhealth poster!

(spot the subtle 🍉🇵🇸 support)
Picture taken at the Autism Europe Congress 2025 showing the presenter Dr Bérengère Digard standing at a lectern in the bottom left corner of the image. Dr Digard has long dark hair, a colourful shirt, and dark red trousers. She is looking to her left, towards the screen behind her, that takes most of the picture. On the screen there is the first slide of her talk, showing in dark red the title "Clinicians & Educators on Bilingualism & Autism: Factors influencing practice, & the efficacy of new information resources". Below the title are the authors' names and affiliations (Dr Bérengère Digard and Ella Verduyn at the University of Edinburgh, Dr Rachael Davis at Queen Margaret University). In the bottom right corner of the slide there is a cartoon of a watermelon slice to represent the authors' ongoing support for Palestine and their stance against the apartheid and genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian and supported by Western nations. To the left of the title is a drawing of the face of a blond child on a green background with their head surrounded by letters. In the bottom left there are different logos aligned showing the organisations that supported the study presented (the University of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University, the Patrick Wild Centre, FIRAH). Picture of Dr Bérengère Digard standing by a poster at the Autism Europe Congress 2025. Dr Digard has long dark hair, a colourful shirt, and dark red trousers. The portrait-oriented poster is entitled "A qualitative study on the intersectionality of autism and gender on mental health and camouflaging". Next to the title is attached a pin of the Palestinian flag to show Dr Digard's support for Palestine and her stance against the genocide and apartheid committed by Israel against the Palestinians with the support of Western states.
September 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
alannajshand.bsky.social
What an incredible (and full-on) three days at #AECongress2025!

On Day 3, I shared insights from my PhD research on compensation and psychological strengths, highlighting the ways strengths may be used by autistic adults to compensate.

My presentation is available here: bit.ly/3IlvHD2

#AEC2025
Picture of the Royal Dublin Society building, location of the Autism Europe 2025 Congress
September 16, 2025 at 11:10 AM
catedraautismo.bsky.social
Asistimos a #AECongress2025 Un encuentro donde personas autistas, familias y profesionales compartimos experiencias, aprendizajes y futuro

Nos llevamos motivación, ilusión y la certeza de que el camino se construye en comunidad

¡Nos vemos en Bilbao!

@autismeurope.bsky.social
#Autism #Ireland
September 16, 2025 at 8:00 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
There were no Monday Joys yesterday, not because there weren't any - but because there were so many over #AECONGRESS2025 that I'm still resting up.

Oh, and my wonderful friend from my masters has also arrived for a visit so we spent time having afternoon tea.

I'm filled with a lot of joy currently
Aimee and her friend Elena sit at a table with afternoon tea cakes on the table. We smile big smiles, reunited after a year apart, and delighted to be in our favourite window seat. Aimee and the incredible TC Waisman smile big smiles in a photo together in the main hall at Autism Europe. TC wears a floral jacket, blue jeans, white rimmed glasses and brogue heels. Aimee wears a denim jacket, coral dress with love hearts and her 'conference shoes' (black doc marten Mary jane shoes with black bows). Aimee presenting her research using slides to a very full (overflowing!) Room of people. People are taking pictures of Aimee's slides and sitting on the floor and standing to the side of seats. A group of happy people who had attended day 1 of Autism Europe are smiling in a traditional Irish pub. The Room is filled with excited chatter, catching up and steak and Guinness pie.
September 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM
aimeespeaks.bsky.social
About to check out from my hotel for #AECONGRESS2025.

Every morning the same Irish lady who has worked there for over 40 years has run the breakfast.

Today was the first time I was the only one there. She came back out the kitchen to say "are you Irish?"

I'm not, but she said she's been convinced
September 14, 2025 at 7:50 AM
soundcube.bsky.social
Live responsive drawing no 2 as documenting

Saturday - improving physical and mental health 8

inc Gina from play Inc describing Brick Clubs (using Lego to support autistic YP)

Lego Works for adults too :)

Alt text explains

#AECongress2025 #AuDHD #Lego #Autistic #MentalHealth #Dexterity
A biro drawing of a diverse set of surreal birds & creatures including spirals oysters thin birds with large eyes and big beaks with one person in the middle asking the question’ written at the top saying ‘where is meaningful support and Lego boxes of possibility’ extra text at bottom ‘the individual is at the centre’ some of the creatures are pointing to another drifting away. Creatures are drawn as I taste the words spoken so the picture evolves not preplanned
September 14, 2025 at 7:19 AM
communication4all.bsky.social
Our friend Miriam Kenny, Founder of Involve Autism, an Irish parent-led advocacy group, is very supportive of typing for nonspeakers. We will be back to continue our work with you!

#aecongress2025
Elizabeth (white woman with long brown hair) poses between Ginnie (white woman with long brown hair) on the left, and Miriam Kenny (white woman with shoulder-length brown hair) on the right. Ginnie wears a black jumpsuit, black dress shoes, and an orange Communication 4 ALL t-shirt. Elizabeth wears a white C4A t-shirt, red jacket, and black pants, and holds her iPad. Catherine wears a jean jacket, blue-and-white plant-patterned dress, and white sneakers. All wear conference nametag lanyards.
September 13, 2025 at 10:34 PM
communication4all.bsky.social
Day 3 of the @autismeurope.bsky.social International Congress included Elizabeth’s presentation to a packed auditorium of 500+ researchers, therapists, teachers, parents and allies. We made many connections with organizations from around the world that serve nonspeakers.

#aecongress2025
Elizabeth stands outside an office building’s doors. Above her is a banner with text that reads “WELCOME 14th Autism Europe International Congress, 11th-13th September 2025, Dublin, Ireland.” The vertical poster on the left contains Autism Europe’s logo, a photo of a building with some trees in the background, and a “DETAILED PROGRAMME” QR code. The poster on the right contains As I Am Ireland’s Autism Charity’s logo, a photo of a Dublin bridge and buildings, and a “MOBILE APP” QR code.
September 13, 2025 at 10:34 PM
amazonians.bsky.social
So pleased to have been able to present my research on #autisticwomen & #employment this week in Dublin at the 14th Autism Europe Congress, & a privilege to hear so many brilliant keynote & other presenters set out a better, more inclusive future for autistic people worldwide #AECongress2025 #dublin
Conference slide showing presenter names and topics
September 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
Right, time to say goodbye to #AECongress2025 see folks in Bilbao in 3 years time for #AECongress2028 👋💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
Oh, a video, great! Really not sure rapidly changing images and booming music is something I can cope well with after 3 full days of Congress!

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
The Spanish team highlighting that they want to ensure high needs autistic people are included in the 2028 Congress

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
michelleldodd.bsky.social
Sad to have missed the closing ceremony but too tired. A great time was had though, thanks #AECongress2025 and everyone who attended.
hjellis.bsky.social Helen Ellis @hjellis.bsky.social · Sep 13
The announcement of where the 15th Congress in 2028 is going to be . . . . Huge round of flappause to the words "Bilbao, Spain"!!!

Wooohooo, love a trip to Spain!!
😁☀️😎🇪🇸

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
Photograph of a screen showing a presentation slide titled "15th Autism Europe International Congress 2028 Bilbao September 14 - 16"
September 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
A speech from the Spanish team now, been spoken in both Spanish and English on stage, with the English translation being spoken by a late diagnosed autistic women

#AECongress2025
#AECongress2028
💜♾️🇮🇪🇪🇸
September 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
The announcement of where the 15th Congress in 2028 is going to be . . . . Huge round of flappause to the words "Bilbao, Spain"!!!

Wooohooo, love a trip to Spain!!
😁☀️😎🇪🇸

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
Photograph of a screen showing a presentation slide titled "15th Autism Europe International Congress 2028 Bilbao September 14 - 16"
September 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
Harald Neerland, President of @autismeurope.bsky.social on stage now, joking that Adam has stolen everything he wanted to say! 😆

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
soundcube.bsky.social
Closing ceremony time

Thank you
@asiamireland.bsky.social
@autismeurope.bsky.social

More autistic research shift
Less shifty autism research

#AECongress2025 #AuDHD #Dublin
September 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
I have no idea how @asiamireland.bsky.social CEO Adam is still going today, much less talking on stage right now!!

Its been a hectic, overwhelming, fun, tough, bonkers 3 days and the whole AsIAm team deserve a huge round of flappause for their efforts 👏🙌👋👍

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
Photograph of a screen showing a white man in a dark blue suit delivering a speech
September 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
welshflier007.bsky.social
Thank you to @hjellis.bsky.social for the fab live-posting from #AECongress2025 It’s been a treat to follow along from Wales.
September 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
Back in the main hall for the final time for the Closing Ceremony (and symbolic handover to the Congress 2028 host, this really is like the Olympics!)

Nice, low-volume, soothing background 'nature' music that is helping keep the headache at bay for a bit

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 3:53 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
Missed the third question as was trying to stifle a cough into my scarf! Think it referenced non-speaking autistic people's input to research participation.

A comment now from a former A-rep (the name for the autistic reps involved in the EU-AIMS project), mention of SBC

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
Another audience question, this one about accountability re data collected and where it gets shared/misrepresented by other uses

Mary mentioning a data sharing protocol having been created that is very robust and had input from all the different groups involved in the project

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 3:29 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
Mary answering an audience question now about how to bring others (like the NHS) on this journey to being more inclusive/neuroaffirmative

Answer mentions how you still have to mostly use deficit-language and talk about outcomes to get grant funding

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
hjellis.bsky.social
The future of research is sounding very positive, I just wish the global situation/public view of autism would go back to progress rather than regression!

#AECongress2025
💜♾️
September 13, 2025 at 3:20 PM