In august 2024 Kevin Toolis, a journalist with zero stated background in the field of Neurodiversity let alone Neurodivergence/Autism, wrote a piece in the Spectator magazine that horrified all of us Neurodivergent performers who were on the Edinburgh Fringe that year. According to him, all of our self confession and soul - baring, a dangerous thing in the Neurotypical world, was nothing but cheap attention seeking.

At the time I just ignored it. Typical revisionism. An article full of clearly biased and aggressive language, representing an old and recognisable agenda for a 20 year veteran of autistic self advocacy like me. Here we go again. The usual. Toolis refused to debate his piece, and left Twitter/X at that time. I am contacting him to a response when I post this podcast.

You can read the piece online. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-neurodiversity-took-over-the-edinburgh-fringe/

Here, I interview

Suzy Payton

Jax Braithwaite. (Baby Belle)

Mark Nicholas

Narin Oz

Variety D

Antonio Fadda Batzella

SJ Whyatt

Nicky Vere Compton

Angus Baskerville

Drew Gadron

Stephen Catling

Nanny Aut

Thank you very much to you all. You are my Neurokin.

Paul.

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I never thought I would get to speak to someone in the legendary Californian city of Fresno. I always though it was short for a bigger title too, but turns out to be Spanish for Ash tree. Eve Reliand who claimed the name Autistic Bad Ass Activist before anyone else, kindly spoke to me for my podcast.

Eve is best introduced as an autistic activist, artist, writer and parent. she is the founder of InternationalBadassActivists (one word for all you autistic pendants out there), and a co-founder of the Autistic Co operative. Eve started writing for self advocacy in 2005 and launched her first campaign around autism in 2008.

Eve's goals are to make a better future for all autistic s born today, amplify divergent voices and document just what has been going on in the world of autism but from our perspective rather than the neurotypical curing parent one that seems to want absolute domination over every narrative and agenda known. Her wonderful films on social media must be seen to be believed. History will be very glad that Eve has gone to the effort that she has.

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Carly Jones MBE is a single mother of three daughters, the eldest of which is 23. A fact that she reckons entitles her to a sainthood, never mind being made a Member of the British Empire for services to autistic people (well at least the British Crown recognises us as such).

Carly's story found her alone against all the odds raising three children, and later in life finding out through them that she was autistic. She has gone on to support many autistic people as a mentor and...wait for it... is a Keynote speaker, a presenter, an author, a UK Policy Safeguarding professional and...yet there is more...is on numerous advisory boards like the National Autistic Society, The Barbican London, Autistica Insights, NHS England Immunisation Board, Heathrow Airport, Motability Consumer Group, East Midlands Rail and as if that aint enough she finds time to. (take a breath now) be an Independent Member of the Ministry of Justice (that sounds very Judge Dredd doesnt it?) Our Majesty the Queens Community and Voluntary Honours Committee UK, Royal Society of Arts fellow, Co chair of the Executive Steering group with National Autistic Society and Royal Menace for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training of all U.K. NHS Health and Social Care Staff.

Not finished yet. She was voted one of the top 100 U.K. female entrepreneurs as well. No really.

She's been on the BBC and independently reviews scholastic articles for Springer publications.

If that's not informed you, try her twitter - CarlyJonesMBE and if you STILL need more, I think it's best you email her on Carly on Britishautismadvocate@gmail.com.

Thank you.

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