Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 15h

Pumpkins, is all 🎃

Reposted by Erin Beeston (she/her)

Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.bsky.social · 16h

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 · 17h

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.

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 2d

@sixteenthcgirl.bsky.social saw the brilliant RSC Born With Teeth this week 👀 so of course I'm listening to your pod for a top up of history! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Not Just the Tudors - Tudor True Crime: The Murder of Christopher Marlowe - BBC Sounds

Who stabbed the famed playwright? And who planned it?

www.bbc.co.uk

Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 4d

How to get star struck at an Autism conference? Sit at a table with Damian Milton 😅 #AutismArtOfThePossible

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Reposted by Erin Beeston (she/her)

British History Online @bho.bsky.social · 5d

Bulletin of the John Rylands Library goes #OpenAccess

manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/blog/2025/10...

#History 🗃️

BJRL Goes Open Access: Professor Carsten Timmermann on Manchester's Medical History - Manchester University Press

BJRL 87:1 is now Open Access on Manchesterhive.

manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 5d

And OF COURSE listening to co-producers - autistic advisors, autistic advocates, autistic practitioners, allies and colleagues

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 5d

Incredibly inspiring morning #AutismArtOfThePossible @at-autism.bsky.social from schools to hospitals & social care - working with compassion, empathy, rights based approaches and team work across professions enriching the lives of autistic people 💕

Speakers taking questions from the room, sat on chairs in front of delegates

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 5d

Hooray 🎉 I've made it to London for @at-autism.bsky.social the Art of the Possible conference tomorrow #neuroaffirmative #participatory #action #research followed by over sharing my own laughable experiences of autism w a stand-up set for @scienceshowoff.bsky.social

Erin eating an ice cream in front of Buckingham palace roundabout

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 6d

Hey bluesky peeps 👋 fun folk at a loose end in London Weds evening? I have the #comedy night for you! @scienceshowoff.bsky.social at the Harrison 7-9pm, 🎫 wegottickets.com/event/673103

Science Showoff October 2025

Science Showoff is the chaotic science comedy show where your favourite comedians, favourite scientists and favourite friends get to be silly about serious stuff. Join a carefully-curated lineup of ...

wegottickets.com

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Reposted by Erin Beeston (she/her)

Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 8d

Congratulations to Renée Bergland, whose book Natural Magic is the Winner of the @bshsnews.bsky.social's Hughes Prize! This award celebrates the best book in the history of science which is accessible to a wide audience of non-specialists.

Explore this exceptional book here: hubs.ly/Q03Lz1pb0

Natural Magic: Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin, and the Dawn of Modern Science by Renée Bergland

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 19d

A golf flag may be more appropriate...

Blue flag with 'marked safe from taking medical advice from someone who can't pronounce acetaminophen'

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 20d

Arnie knows best

Reposted by Erin Beeston (she/her)

Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 20d

Gentle reminder that autistic mums are a) more likely to have autistic babies and b) more likely to have pain conditions that need Tylenol (paracetamol). Tylenol doesn't 'cause' the autistic babies.
It's not rocket science.
Unfortunately, some leaders gave up science in year 3, I think.

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 21d

Links to comedy set in Instagram

Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 21d

I found out I'm #autistic thanks to my kids... Must be all their calpol syringes I've licked in the small hours. R.F.K. - keen to distract us from familial inheritance, I wonder why?? #standup #scicomm #autism #genetics #pleasedontsuemecalpol #drseuss #notadoctor
www.instagram.com/reel/DO5gzP1...

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · 29d

After a brilliant evening at the Science Comedy Spectacular last night - with lots of clever & funny people (and the comics weren't bad either 😜)
It's back to #Liverpool #BSF25 for 'Mind games: Puzzles, the brain and you!' at 8.30pm. Be there and... you know the shape @britsciassoc.bsky.social

Screen grab of info for Mind Games show at Quirky Quarter 8.30, 13 Sept

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Reposted by Erin Beeston (she/her)

Cheshire Cat ᓚᘏᗢ, @autismsupsoc.bsky.social · Jul 31

I had to explain to somebody in one sentence why many Autistic people embrace Superman as an Autistic character … on tbe Doof I came up with:

“He’s an alien with weird senses & complex morals who lives a double life”

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · Sep 12

Tonight! 8.30pm at Leaf on Bold St 💡

British Science Association @britsciassoc.bsky.social · Aug 17

🤯 Discover how brilliant minds do stupid things at our science comedy show at the British Science Festival in #Liverpool!

🗓 Fri 12 Sept | 🕡 20:30–22:00
📍 Quirky Quarter

🎟 Book now!

britishscienceassociation-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

Image of Rachel Honeyghan-Williams, Erin Beeston, Kate Slade & Freya McGhee.

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · Sep 12

I managed to encourage my mum to raise it with the GP, she's early 70s, they were literally like 'well you've managed this long' and squashed the referral request. I am concerned as she gets older her sensory processing & exec function differences could lead to misunderstandings esp re.dementia

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Reposted by Erin Beeston (she/her)

SHNH @sochistnathist.bsky.social · Sep 12

📢 Call for Papers! 📢

We're excited to announce that in 2026 we will again be hosting an Early Career Researcher Symposium, and that this time it will be a partnership with @linneansociety.bsky.social!🙌🏻

We'd love to hear from all ECRs, so find how to submit a proposal 👇🏻
shnh.org.uk/news/cfp-ear...

A deep green background with white lettering that reads "The society for the History of Natural History Call for Papers" surrounded by historic illustrations of different types od seaweed.

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Reposted by Erin Beeston (she/her)

Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) Lab @beamlab.bsky.social · Sep 12

At last the perfect opportunity to wear this t-shirt - a science comedy evening featuring @erinbeeston.bsky.social this evening at the British Science Festival #BSF25

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · Sep 10

And check out my FAVE headshot by @drstevex.bsky.social on this poster, as well as this bluesky profile pic 📸

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · Sep 10

Followed by a lovely workshop making sensory springy-things. My yellow punk-rock alien went down well with this guy 👾

Photo of boy sat down holding a sensory toy made from yellow tights around a spring

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · Sep 10

Lots of interactive moments in the talk to think about joy in ordinary things, shining a light on the extraordinary ways in which autistic people engage in their environments

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Erin Beeston (she/her) @erinbeeston.bsky.social · Sep 10

Brilliant talk this afternoon to kick start @britsciassoc.bsky.social free festival in #liverpool by Liz Pellicano & Robyn Steward on #autistic joy, encouraging the audience to consider how the deficit model of autism has shaped their views - overlooking the magnificent joy we can experience

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