Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Susan Madigan

@susanmadigan3.bsky.social

1.7K followers 2.5K following 160 posts

Occupational Therapist. Supporting the neurodivergent crew to thrive. Accessibility in Eucation, Work and Healthcare. Working with employers to understand and value neurodiversity. She/her, Neurodivergent not otherwise specified. Training @ susanmadigan.ie

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Susan Madigan @susanmadigan3.bsky.social · Apr 21

There’s growing discourse around the “overdiagnosis” of Autism and ADHD—particularly in adults. Critics say these diagnoses are now being handed out too easily, "its all gone too far", even framing them as trendy. But this view misses something fundamental. 1/24

3 15 50

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Scary Corpse @damselindystopia.bsky.social · 15d

"When we fight for the right of autistic trans people to access transition care on the same terms as neurotypical trans people, we fight for disability rights. When we fight against cuts to disability benefits that our community disproportionately needs, we fight for trans rights."

2 34 63

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Naoise Dolan @naoisedolan.bsky.social · 11d

The second flotilla continues to sail. No matter what we hear about prison conditions for the first wave of participants, our solidarity with Palestine is unconditional. We’re on track to reach Gaza in just a few days www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

Naoise Dolan: As we get closer to Gaza, Israel’s abduction of our fellow flotilla members will only spur us on

Friday, October 4, 12.25am local time. I should sleep before my night watch shift begins in two hours, but my boat’s violent tilting makes it impossible. There is a loud, interminable drilling noise; ...

www.independent.ie

1 33 64

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Dr Robert Bohan @robertbohan.bsky.social · 15d

This woman is on fire in the EU parliament.

27 310 930

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Fergus Murray @fergus.oolong.co.uk · 15d

Wow. So. Wayward.

...huh.

Damn.

The poster for Wayward, with Toni Colette's Evelyn looming like the creepy psychologist she is, and Mae Martin and various other actors, around a door.

It's a Netflix show.

The tagline is 'We think you'll be very happy here'.

5 2 21

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Ms M 💚🌱💙🦊🌳🦔🌸🐞🧶♾️ @themorganic.bsky.social · Jul 31

This is the part that Elliot just doesn’t seem to understand.

It might help if he simultaneously championed alternative ways of assessing people’s knowledge & understanding that don’t use methods by which dyslexics are already disadvantaged.

Extra time doesn’t cut it!

1 2

Reposted by Susan Madigan

The Mental Elf @thementalelf.bsky.social · 23d

🧩 Therapy through the lens of autism
What makes therapy feel safe & effective for autistic adults?

This new qualitative study highlights the adjustments that matter most — from flexible communication to sensory-friendly environments.

🧵 THREAD

#Autism #Therapy #MentalHealth

1 5 11

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Kieran Ryan @kieranryan.bsky.social · 26d

It's a type of "Quiet Quitting" from before that was even a phrase. People won't say out loud, "I don't like going to town because I hate having to plan my trip around where I can access a toilet."

They just won't go to town.

1 1 5

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Siobhán McElduff @siobhanmcelduff.bsky.social · 26d

Only Dublin could treat the provision of public toilets as if they were being asked to land people on Mars.

RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 27d

From the start of the millennium until the pandemic struck in 2020 there were no on street public toilets in Dublin city, writes Samantha Libreri

The challenges and risks of installing public toilets

A carved granite plinth with perforated metal roundels, wrought-iron railings with shamrock heads and a cast-iron ventilation shaft with stylised foliage located at the junction of Kevin Street and Ne...

www.rte.ie

7 25 78

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Siobhán McElduff @siobhanmcelduff.bsky.social · 26d

There's an enormous feeling that we just don't deserve better, being filthy little beasts with no right to wander the city.

1 1 7

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Thriving Autistic @thrivingautistic.bsky.social · Sep 14

Created by animator Iara Abigalil, @autisticrealms.bsky.social , @fergus.oolong.co.uk , @scrappapertiger.bsky.social , @jessicakdoyle.bsky.social , Laura Buckland Mason and music by @somebodysomeone.bsky.social
Join us for our launch:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/discovery-...

Discovery Celebration: Autistic Community Shaping Neuro-Affirmative Support

Join Thriving Autistic for a special online celebration of Autistic experiences and reflections from our Discovery Programme.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

1 6 7

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Jessica Price @delafina777.bsky.social · Sep 10

So, right now, the only reliable way to diagnose endometriosis is with exploratory surgery. But finally, real scientists (instead of male scientists), are on the job & of course they’ve identified multiple markers in menstrual blood that point to noninvasive testing.

www.science.org/content/arti...

Driven by the pain of endometriosis, this scientist is uncovering clues to its causes

Katie Burns is helping reveal the immune system’s role in the long-neglected disease

www.science.org

27 1K 2.6K

Susan Madigan @susanmadigan3.bsky.social · Sep 15

Yes you're right thank you! I've corrected now!

Susan Madigan @susanmadigan3.bsky.social · Sep 15

Written in response to @autisticdoctor.bsky.social and co authors own research into barriers to healthcare for autistic people www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10....

Autistic SPACE: a novel framework for meeting the needs of autistic people in healthcare settings | British Journal of Hospital Medicine

Autistic people experience significant health disparities and reduced life expectancy. Barriers to accessing healthcare are associated with adverse health outcomes. Autism training and healthcare prof...

www.magonlinelibrary.com

3 3

Susan Madigan @susanmadigan3.bsky.social · Sep 14

Great summary of Lawrence Fungs talk. You've probably seen the Autistic Space Framework but worth mentioning in case your readers/ followers haven't seen it! It's open access: www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10....

Autistic SPACE: a novel framework for meeting the needs of autistic people in healthcare settings | British Journal of Hospital Medicine

www.magonlinelibrary.com

1 2

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · Sep 14

Healthcare settings tend to be designed for neurotypical patients. Neurodivergent patients can find them noisy and chaotic and so intolerable from a sensory perspective. #neurodiversity #SNS25

1 11 29

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · Sep 14

Stanford Neurodiversity Summit Day 2 starts now!

Dr. Lawrence Fung is talking about barriers to healthcare for neurodivergent individuals across systemic levels. They include limited insurance coverage and barriers when transitioning out of pediatric care. #neurodiversity #SNS25

6 35 110

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · Sep 6

I'm kind of shocked that anyone is still proposing technocratic solutions to the "debate" over immigration. Even if this were a good idea (and it is not), Republican elites and media will never tell their base about it. You can't policy your way out of a propaganda problem!

But we could also go much further. One idea might be to tax immigrants themselves at higher rates and restrict federal benefits until immigrants have met some threshold of tax payments or achieved permanent residency.6 This is not a prospect that brings me joy. But I do think that these are necessary preconditions to warming the public to the idea that the economic math of immigration works out in our favor.

100 490 3.3K

Susan Madigan @susanmadigan3.bsky.social · Sep 13

Brilliant thanks Laura!

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Laura Crane @lauramaycrane.bsky.social · Sep 13

#AECongress25 attendees: here's some Autism Research Starter Packs, where I've tried to collate BlueSky accounts from those who do/support/facilitate autism research. Let me know if I've missed anyone!
1. go.bsky.app/B9XV8UA
2. go.bsky.app/Pfbbvot
3. go.bsky.app/DWvXhk6

6 7 27

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Sue Fletcher-Watson @suereviews.bsky.social · Sep 13

So my keynote at #AECongress25 involved a lot of memes to illustrate my points about how to understand and apply the neurodiversity paradigm.

The focus is on LIBERATION from OPPRESSIVE systems and beliefs.

This will work best, I believe, when we COLLECTIVISE our action.

Here we go…

2 7 37

Reposted by Susan Madigan

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · Sep 12

these are great fall outfits

38 120 2.1K

Susan Madigan @susanmadigan3.bsky.social · Sep 12

The life changing Bernadette Grosjean on the myth of overdiagnosis "If you need to change the name, do that, but don't cancel us", people trying to understand their mental health and identity Is good, actually. #AEC2025

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Rico Charges @nochorus.bsky.social · Sep 6

bsky.app/profile/noch... If you want to see this quilt (and lots of other equally fantastic work), you should head to the Irish Guild Of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers' 50 Years On exhibit in the Lexicon Library in Dun Laoghaire before September 19th.

Exhibition of
work by weavers,
spinners and
dyers

LAUNCH: 6PM THURSDAY 4/9/2025
WITH GERALDINE MITCHELL, AUTHOR,
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS SERVED.
ALL WELCOME.
WORKSHOPS:
6/9/25: LEARN TO SPIN ON A SPINDLE, 11AM - 2PM
13/9/25: RIGID HEDDLE LOOM WEAVING 11AM - 3PM
COST: € 40 FOR SPINNING /€50 FOR WEAVING

Exhibition open from
4th-19th Sept 2025

Meet the Makers!

9.30AM - 8PM, MON - THURS
9.30AM - 5PM, FRI, SAT.
12 - 4PM SUNDAY.
LEXICON LIBRARY, DUN LAOGHAIRE

IRISH GUILD OF WEAVERS SPINNERS AND DYERS

50th Anniversary

Exhibition

50 Years On!

VISIT US FOR MORE INFORMATION: hello@weavespindye.ie

2 5 21

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Dr Jay Watts @shrinkatlarge.bsky.social · Aug 30

Nearly all claimants with these conditions have multiple other ones - we don’t have the figures for how many with PIP but for UC health it is FIVE.

So, the clinical picture is often v complicated and can’t be captured by one label.

Benefits are given on *this* overall picture.

2 11 48

Reposted by Susan Madigan

Dr Jay Watts @shrinkatlarge.bsky.social · Aug 30

The Centre for Social Justice has just released a report called ‘Wasted Lives’ which is being picked up by the media and recommends withdrawing: “UC Health and PIP from those with milder anxiety, depression or ADHD, equivalent to around 1.1 million people”. Why is this wrong? 🧵

5 39 96