Welcome to Autistic Realms Newsletter!

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Dear friends and community,

As the year draws to a close, I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for all your support. It has been such a gift to be part of a growing, connected Autistic community.
This year has been a busy and meaningful one, and I wanted to share a brief snapshot of some of the work, collaborations, and learning spaces we’ve been part of together and I have been fortunate to be a part of.

Conferences, training & collaborative work this year included:

• ​Yellow Ladybugs Conference– speaking about The Map of Monotropic Experiences alongside Wenn Lawson
• ​National Autism Society – delivering Neuro-Affirming Research in Practice: Supporting Autistic Students, Embracing Monotropism in the Classroom and Beyond with Tanya Adkin
• ​Muiriosa Foundation – co-creating training to support Autistic people with learning disabilities
• ​PANS PANDAS Conference 2025 – exploring neurodivergence and PANS PANDAS with Laura Hellfeld
• ​Autistic Mental Health Conference – with David Gray-Hammond and team
• ​SWAN Scotland – A Parent’s Perspective: Barriers to Education & Embracing Monotropism
• ​GLP Conference with Cathy Shilling – Leaning into Monotropism: Insights for Supporting GLPs
• ​Neurokindred Thriving Autistically Conference with Laura Hellfeld and Scott Neilson talking about Safe Spaces
• ​Autistic Parents UK – peer support webinar on parenting and monotropism with Tanya Adkin
• Co-facilitating Emergent Divergence: The Autistic Wellbeing Series with David Gray-Hammond and Tanya Adkin
• Podcast conversations with The Autism Podcast and Human Restoration Project and Stimpunks.
• ​Stimpunks collaborations – including:
  • Seeds of Cope mental health event
  • ​Neuroqueer Learning Spaces (free, open-source training)
  • ​Map of Monotropic Experiences free training pack and workbook
  • Weekly peer support solidarity sessions and our Watch and Learning together series.
• I am also super proud of the two neuro-affirming educational animations I created with Thriving Autistic team: Discovering You’re Autistic and Lightbulb Moments: Being Autistic
  Watch here!

Book chapters and publications:

• ​It Takes All Kinds of Minds (Routledge) – chapter on embracing monotropism and flow (co-authored with Fergus Murray)
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• ​Sensory Spaces: An A–Z (Routledge) – chapter on the Cavendish Space (co-authored with Ryan Boren)
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• Contributing to the writing and development of The Neurodiversity-Affirmative Child Autism Assessment Handbook​
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• Blogs for National Autistic Society about neuro-affirming practice and monotropism and also for Special Needs Jungle ‘What schools and parents need to understand about supporting Autistic and neurodivergent children‘
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Ongoing Collaborations:

• ​Thriving Autistic – Communications and Community Lead, supporting training, Autistic adult Discovery Programme, monthly peer support meet ups and family workshops
• ​GROVE – Being Me Programme – contributing to create resources and training for Autistic young people as their Training and Resource Specialist
• ​Stimpunks – continuing work as Co-Creative Director to develop our amazing and ever expanding website with possibly the largest and most up to date glossary in the world for neurodivergent and disabled people!
• Continuing to support and update Monotropism.org with Fergus Murray, sharing monotropism related research, writing, and community resources
• ​CASY – Cultural Autism Studies at Yale – participating in community events and supporting the website development
• Creating more neuro-affirming guides and resources for Autistic Realms, writing more blogs and expanding my neuroqueering post-human exploration through my More Realms work.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this work. I’m so grateful to be learning and building alongside you, and I look forward to what we’ll grow together in the year ahead.

With warmth and appreciation,
​Helen Edgar​
​Autistic Realms​
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Ps ……More Exciting News!

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David Gray-Hammond (Emergent Divergence) and I have a new community: NeuroHub!
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I’m really delighted to be collaborating with David and to be part of this new community space as an affiliate.
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​Why NeuroHub?​
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Because the neurodiversity paradigm is evolving, and so are we.
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Because too many conversations are shaped by people who have never lived the realities we write and speak about every day.
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Because community is powerful, not in a hierarchical, top-down way, but in the rhizomatic sense: spreading sideways, exchanging nutrients, forming networks of support that don’t rely on one central authority.
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Because understanding ourselves is easier when we do it together.
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​Join Us!​
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NeuroHub is open now at neurohub.blog​
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Membership provides:
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• Access to exclusive videos, talks, and recordings and training
• A community space to explore the meaning of neurodiversity
• Weekly peer support drop-in sessions for members
• An environment shaped by neurodivergent thinking, for neurodivergent people
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If you’re looking for a place to deepen your knowledge, connect with others, and take part in a living, evolving conversation about neurodiversity, NeuroHub is that place.
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Hope to see some of you there!
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If you find this news letter valuable please do share and encourage people to sign up and visit Autistic Realms – pass on a Penguin Pebble!
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Best Wishes,
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Helen

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“Community is magic. ​
​Community is power. ​
​Community is resistance.”​
Alice Wong

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