Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Dr Katie Twomey

@k2mey.bsky.social

2.5K followers 2K following 4.5K posts

Autistic fan of autistic people. LGBTQ+ ally because obviously. Routine goblin. She/her. Sweary, sorry. Lecturer (UK), researcher in language development, psycholinguistics, autism. ♾️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 10h

I love this! It was always the boys, which gave it an element of cool in my teenage brain, but ultimately bundling was only good to the extent it was chaotic and anarchic (sorry teachers but it was fun to watch). Your daughter sounds amazing. Spying for the win.

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

I find my job sometimes intolerably stressful, but it's the students I end up being friends with that keep me there. They give more than they take and they don't even realise it.

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

PMQs but Bundle. It is basically Bundle to be fair

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

That can't have been an easy career but I'm sure you made a huge difference to a lot of amazing people ❤️

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

Graduation but Bundle

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

I propose swapping Curriculum Planning Day for a game of bundle

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

A propos of just having watched Educating Yorkshire, does anyone remember the classic game Bundle, where someone would shout BUNDLE in the school corridor and then everyone would just jump on top of each other and end up in a big heap? Happier times

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

Co-supervisng I should say. The rather smashing @kathyleadbitter.bsky.social is the main supervisor

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

Who were your students, out of interest?

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

My beloved frequently replies to me with echolalia largely derived from song lyrics. I love it. "Do you want some tea?" "Stop. It's supper time"

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

My overall impression (am not a clinician) is that people are taking from the GLP theory the neuroaffirming element but not employing the actual intervention, which has zero evidence and from what I know of language acquisition could actually be damaging. But yes, love an echolalia

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

I just strongly feel that we shouldn't conflate production with processing, because my autistic brain is digging its heels in 😂

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

I've had the privilege of supervising an amazing MSc student recently who interviewed parents of autistic children about their perceptions of echolalia and they almost all viewed it as meaningful and actively tried to learn what that meaning was.

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 11h

I love the neuroaffirming aspect that people take from it, absolutely. I think I'd rather people learned what the echolalia means, rather than try to dismantle it (which seems to be the Natural Language Acquisition approach).

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 12h

I should add that I love @autisticrealms.bsky.social work and they are a huge force for good in the community.

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 12h

We need to gather robust evidence on this before we start doing interventions with that as the substrate theory. I know this will make me unpopular, but I'm a language development researcher and scientist as well as as autistic person (who, yes, uses gestalts sometimes)

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 12h

We know that some autistic children and adults produce echolalia (gestalts, or repeated bits of language) to convey unconventional meanings. That is a beautiful and in my view very complex way of metaphor making. But we don't know if they *process* language in a gestalt way

Autistic Realms (Helen Edgar) @autisticrealms.bsky.social · 12h

I am presenting at The Gestalt Language Processors Conference 2025 with Cathy Shilling from The Speech Den this week. We will be exploring all things GLP and Monotropism related. This is one of our summary slides.
Find out more: registration.glpconference.co.uk/glp25

Infographic titled “Gestalt Language Processing Reframed: Monotropism, Interests & Connection.”
It contrasts a Deficit View of GLPs & Autism (left column, red boxes) with a Monotropism Informed Neuroaffirming Reframe (right column, green boxes), using arrows to show each shift in understanding:

Deficit View: Echolalia = lack of intent or understanding and meaningless repetition
Reframe: Echolalia = communication, grounded in deep attentional and emotional resonance

Deficit View: Scripts are rigid or blocking progress
Reframe: Scripts are anchors from which meaningful communication can emerge

Deficit View: GLPs have delayed or disordered language
Reframe: GLPs uniquely acquire language deeply and relationally through attentional processing

Deficit View: Structured analytic interventions needed to fix and cure
Reframe: Trust and connection support shared flow and communication

Deficit View: Redirecting attention and distractions help
Reframe: Allowing time and space for passions and processing is regulating

At the bottom, it says:
Find out more & join Cathy Shilling & Helen Edgar – Gestalt Language Processors Conference 2025.
Logos for The Speech Den and Autistic Realms – Neurodiversity Affirming appear in the corners.

Reposted by Dr Katie Twomey

Actual names @actualnames.bsky.social · 12h

George Buttock
livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/68...

Lives of the First World War

livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 13h

Alex is the only thing that gets me through. Last time she took me out on a little walk at lunchtime ♥️

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 14h

I asked him what he had to do and he said he couldn't talk about it 👀. Absolutely 100% what a spy would say

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 15h

Curriculum planning away day

Hell-issa Johnson, PhD 🎃 @ladyhistorian.bsky.social · 15h

Mandatory all campus meeting

🏰meg⚔️ @Birthright Audiobook! @impavid.us · 3d

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand

I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 15h

I mean, he said he had worked for GCHQ and he had a posh suit on, so it all fully checks out, 100% have met a real life spy

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 15h

It was the coolest thing ever

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 15h

Yesterday we met a retired spy

Reposted by Dr Katie Twomey

Bouba's Delivery Service @fernmonkey.bsky.social · 1d

My friend Sascha is a professional musician and he's lost a viola bow on the way to Heathrow. Please signal boost to help him get it back.

Lost viola bow on the way from Honor Oak Station to Heathrow Terminal 2. The bow slid from its bow case somewhere along the way, possibly on the train. TFL contacted already.
It weighs 68.2 grams and has got a stamped DODD next to the frog. If any info on this, please pm me.