Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 23h

try to explain what I find online and in print as well as, if it is possible for me to do again as an independent, through academic publications. #postdoclife #sortof

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 23h

all the supports academia offers (not least from my point of view: access to journals, conferences, study groups and a student railcard!) but past colleagues are being very kind so I am not alone. As I did with #phdlife I will

1 1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 23h

(See here for what happened youtu.be/dhUYMBPYGtY?... )

I feel a responsibility towards the work and towards other people whom its findings might help. So I am trying to do it on my own. This will be much harder without access to

When access is hard to describe

YouTube video by The Sensory Projects

youtu.be

1 1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 23h

taken off me when reasonable adjustments with regards to access could not be agree on. From their point of view I was given two options where others would only have had one, so adjustments were offered. From my point of view neither option was safe for me or my family so access wasn't offered.

1 1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 23h

have been my post-doc work. I was awarded a highly competitive funded post doc position which would have involved analysising the data generated through my PhD in relation to autistic experience and the accessibility of spaces, including academia. Without hint of irony this was then

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 23h

published next year by Pavilion. It is a collection of stories (not all by me) that reveal the unity of the autistic spectrum. I've loved re reading them and am looking forward to being able to share them.

But now, in my 'spare' time I am beginning what would

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 23h

Various forms lately have offered me drop-down menus to say what I am. I've yet to come across one with my odd job on it, so I tick "writer" because for the most part that's what you would find me doing.

This week I have been finishing the edits on The Scale of The Spectrum, due to be

picture is of me sitting at a wooden desk littered with various notes, tins, glasses cases and photography equipment. Open on the desk is my small laptop which has a rainbow coloured keyboard, this is connected to two huge monitors one portrait one landscape that are on a shelf in front of me. I am holding the phone up to capture a selfie of me and the computers, each screen shows type. I am a white middle aged woman with long brown hair tied up. I am wearing grey overalls with a tight pink and beige striped jumper underneath. I have brown eyes and a wrinkly forehead. I am holding my glasses in my hand.

1 2

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 1d

Kerry is ADHD herself, so our conversation was about everything all at once. I've been following her journey for years now, I'm excited to see what happens next. Here we are chatting, along with some of the illustrations Kerry has done of me through the years!

Cartoon cow, wearing Parallel Purple Socks on ears and hooves, also grey trousers and a brown Fat Boy Slim t-shirt

Photo of me in running gear, background cartoon cows wearing purple Parallel socks

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 1d

conferences (Like this one £9.50 live all month: www.eventbrite.com/e/access-to-... ) where experts share techniques for connecting with learners other people might write off...

Access to Academic Learning Conference 2025

Join us at the Access to Academic Learning Conference 2025 for insights, strategies, and tools to enhance your teaching!

www.eventbrite.com

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 1d

(including cows wearing Parallel Lifestyle #purplesockday socks!, she creates inclusive teaching materials ( e.g. www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Lea... ) and hosts

The Creative Learning Toolkit: Inclusive and Accessible Activities for the Primary Classroom: Amazon.co.uk: Thalia, Kerry: 9781032848334: Books

Buy The Creative Learning Toolkit: Inclusive and Accessible Activities for the Primary Classroom 1 by Thalia, Kerry (ISBN: 9781032848334) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free deliver...

www.amazon.co.uk

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 1d

Yesterday was all meetings, this one with Discover Inclusion was by far and away the most colourful. Kerry who runs discover inclusion is passionate about children who do not use mouth words having access to academic education. She's also passionate about representation within AAC communication...

Kerry and I are both white women with our hair tied up, she wears glasses, I wear a hoodie in Pride colours, she sits before a background of rainbow coloured circles, the montage of images shows an expressive conversation full of laughter and smiles

Cartoon - me wearing a summer hat with sunflowers tied on a ribbon and a green dress, carrying my young son on my hip, he wears an orange bucket hat a white linen shirt and a Parallel race number

Conference poster showing three people with profound and multiple learning disabilities in cartoon, different genders, skin colours and equipment usage are displayed

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 2d

www.parenta.com/2025/09/22/p...

What does it mean to create spaces where people can feel like they belong?

Slow down, declutter, be with....

Preparing For Belonging | Parenta.com

Practical advice for new teachers and childcare staff on fostering belonging, connecting with children, slowing down, decluttering, and being fully present.

www.parenta.com

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 2d

Making them is my project for this year, come December I will hide them around the small village I live in as a kind of advent calendar. These ones were done with pouring acrylics

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

Penguins!

Setting of Penguin siblings, with some of the pemguin crèche.

Can you spot the Garden Penguin's little one?

1 2

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

www.linkedin.com/in/joannagra...

Joanna Grace PhD - The Sensory Projects | LinkedIn

Seeking to contribute to a world where everyone is understood and appreciated for who… · Experience: The Sensory Projects · Education: University of Nottingham · Location: Greater London · 500+ connec...

www.linkedin.com

1 1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

www.instagram.com/thesensorypr...

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

1 1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

x.com/jo3grace

Joanna Grace PhD (@jo3grace) / X

x.com

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

www.facebook.com/JoannaGraceT...
www.facebook.com/JoannaGraceTSP
www.facebook.com/TheSensoryPr...

Redirecting...

www.facebook.com

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

www.Youtube.com/@TheSensoryProjects

The Sensory Projects

www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk The Sensory Projects run on the principle that with the right knowledge, and a little creativity, inexpensive items can become effective sensory tools for inclusion.

www.Youtube.com

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

systems that object to the creation of a more inclusive society.

Here's all the places you can find me online:
www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk

The Sensory Projects

Seeking to contribute to a world where everyone is understood in spite of difference. The Sensory Projects run on the principle that with the right knowledge and a little creativity, inexpensive items...

www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

use it in a way that spreads awareness and understanding, together with a spot of hula hooping and a handful of penguins. And to that end I hope to keep posting, tweeting, reeling and so on, and not to be silenced by

The Sensory Projects

Seeking to contribute to a world where everyone is understood in spite of difference. The Sensory Projects run on the principle that with the right knowledge and a little creativity, inexpensive items...

www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

people who cope with the echo of me in internet land. If I get squashed in one place I hope you'd find me in another.
Maligned as it maybe social media is a space of potential communication, connection, and understanding (it's also a lot of other things as well). I hope I

The Sensory Projects

Seeking to contribute to a world where everyone is understood in spite of difference. The Sensory Projects run on the principle that with the right knowledge and a little creativity, inexpensive items...

www.TheSensoryProjects.co.uk

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

Lately I've noticed more and more advocates getting their social media profiles suspended. X recently black marked me (pop across to my X if you want to see what sort of awful things I've been saying - apparently I go against community guidelines). I am very grateful to all the

1 1 1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 3d

Oh dear....maybe they took the paracetamol to cope with being circumcised?

a little girl is sitting on a couch with her eyes closed and eating a cookie .

ALT: a little girl is sitting on a couch with her eyes closed and eating a cookie .

media.tenor.com

1

Joanna Grace PhD @jo3grace.bsky.social · 4d

profound and multiple learning disabilities.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-bridge...
Early Bird Tickets are on sale until the end of the year. Hope to see you this time next year!

The Bridge - Birmingham

Research-informed practice for people described as having profound and multiple learning disabilities

www.eventbrite.co.uk

2