@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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@KatyElphinstone@mas.to · 4d ago

Is empathy political?
A thread on autistic empathy.

A still-quite-popular belief about autistic people is that we lack empathy.

I think this is faulty logic.
Here's why:

A thread 🧵

1/10

#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent
#DoubleEmpathy #TheoryOfMind

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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@KatyElphinstone@mas.to · Mar 10, 2026

Replying to Uta Frith's views, one by one.

With thanks to all the members of the autistic community who've informed me & inspired me to write this thread.

For those lucky not to know about her article in The Times, and various other related statements, links at the end.

CW: it's upsetting 😟

A thread 🧵

#UtaFrith #Research #Autism #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

mas.to

K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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@KatyElphinstone@mas.to · Mar 07, 2026

#AskingAutistics

How would you describe your ordinary daily level of anxiety (if any at all)?

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

mas.to

K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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@KatyElphinstone@mas.to · Mar 05, 2026

Many autistic adults shudder when recalling school memories.

But why do autistic people suffer so much at school?

Historically, it’s been framed that a) school is above reproach, and b) there’s always something wrong with the child who doesn’t manage, and not the environment.

Some are starting to question that.

A thread 🧵

⬇️

#School #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #EBSA #ABSA #PDA

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

mas.to

K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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@KatyElphinstone@mas.to · Mar 03, 2026

Subject: Autistic ‘black and white’ thinking.

It's framed as a deficit often seen in autism, but... is it that simple? :shrug2:

Autistic people are traditionally criticized for our inflexibility, or cognitive rigidity.

But I think this isn’t the whole picture.

To start with what we know, here are ten things we autistic people generally have in common (refs at the end of the thread):

⬇️

#Autism #Neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD #Neurodiversity

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

mas.to

K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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@KatyElphinstone@mas.to · Feb 25, 2026

Subject: Information processing in autism. Is our style necessarily a deficit?

Why do autistic people find new or high-stimulus environments stressful; even overwhelming?

Why can it seem, at times, we're slower than others? To take in scenes; to mentally process them; to make decisions based on them 🤷

This thread is an alternative take on autistic processing style & speed.

👇

(Comments & feedback welcomed, as always!)

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #EpistemicInjustice #Neurodivergent #AuDHD

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K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

mas.to

K.J. Elphinstone

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to

Thinking about humanity from an autistic perspective. # Autism # Autistic # Neurodivergent # DoubleEmpathy http://www. neurofabulous.org.uk * * * Profile picture: Me smiling, out-of-doors. I've got dark wavy hair and I'm wearing a red top. Banner: a stormy purple background with a rainbow across it. Next to it is a cartoon character reading a book, with a red heart next to it.

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@KatyElphinstone@mas.to · Jan 24, 2026

One of the current diagnostic criteria for autism is a lack of imagination.

Would you say you lack imagination?

Whatever way you answer, I'd love to hear more detail - if you've time & inclination.

Reposts also appreciated ☺️

#AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #Diagnosis #Neurodivergent

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