Dr Kelly Birtwell
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kellybirtwell.bsky.social
Dr Kelly Birtwell
@kellybirtwell.bsky.social
260 followers 290 following 170 posts
Research Fellow, University of Manchester | Chartered Psychologist | Counsellor | Mindfulness Teacher | ND | Interests in Primary Care, health inequalities, mindfulness, neurodiversity | Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research | Views my own
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kellybirtwell.bsky.social
Dr Kelly Birtwell @kellybirtwell.bsky.social · 23d
📢 📕📖Thrilled to see our chapter on Autism Sensitive Mindfulness-Based Programmes is now out online: doi.org/10.1007/978-.... In The Palgrave Handbook of Third-Wave Psychotherapies. Thanks to chapter reviewers @annmemmott.bsky.social & Max Marnau for their thoughtful & constructive comments. 🙏
Autism Sensitive Mindfulness-Based Programmes
Many autistic individuals choose to practise mindfulness, and there is some evidence that mindfulness-based interventions can support the wellbeing of autistic adults. However, there is no extant guid...
doi.org
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
joannechocolat.bsky.social
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 1877:
Don't stay at your desk all day today. Go for a walk; touch greenery; read a book; watch a cloud; talk to someone; do something new. That's where the magic happens.
December 6, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
joannechocolat.bsky.social
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 209:
Not all writing needs to “lead somewhere.” Joy is a valid end in itself. So is practice: everything you write makes you better writer.
December 7, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
andysheridan.bsky.social
Looking up at a wonderfully fluid staircase in the Art Gallery of Ontario…the only Frank Gehry building I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit.

R.I.P to a true original

#FrankGehry #Architecture
A photograph, taken looking up at the underside of a curvlinear, spiralling, timber clad staircase
December 7, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
tomandlorenzo.bsky.social
A very important thread. When I was probably no more than 10, I saw this picture of the woman known as Harlow in the Philly Inquirer. A little babygay, I was shocked that such a glamour queen could live in my hometown and even more shocked to see her described as "a former man."
Rachel Harlow, her hair pulled back in a chignon, in an Oscar de la Renta dress in 1972
December 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
petraboynton.bsky.social
A global, mass disabling pandemic
Poverty
Precarity
Unemployment
Housing problems
Social change
Conflict
Political unrest

All are major issues that'll cause or worsen mental distress. Why the desire to downplay all these?

Life being stressful can MAKE you ill.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Life being stressful is not an illness' - GPs on mental health over-diagnosis
Hundreds of GPs in England tell the BBC they are also worried about a lack of help for patients.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
drstevenkapp.bsky.social
The research I alluded to and co-authored is here. It is accepted in the top autism journal Autism in Adulthood and is yet to be online: www.researchgate.net/profile/Stev...
www.researchgate.net
December 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
drstevenkapp.bsky.social
UK Government is trying to co-opt neurodiversity movement through claiming neurodivergents may simply be different & not disabled, when we advocate we are both (& disability is social-relational). We need more diagnoses - research: self-identified autistic ppl have more distress & higher unmet needs
December 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
fergus.oolong.co.uk
If we want more neurodivergent people to enter the world of work, "we need to address the systemic and institutional barriers that block our ability to thrive in that world."

When will this government even start to work towards that?
open.substack.com/pub/dghndcon...
How Wes Streeting Is Weaponising Autism & ADHD Diagnosis
How diagnosis is being used to obstruct peoples rights to social welfare
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
drrobertchapman.bsky.social
Something i didn't have time to say is: the standard liberal neurodiversity response of *actually theyre underdiagnosed, the increase is just us getting better at recognising neurodivergence, etc.* is a dead end here as it precisely depoliticises the issue and reifies and essentialises diagnosis.
December 6, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
tanzpunk.bsky.social
ADHD & autism "diagnoses are increasingly used by students & workers for organising to push back against oppressive systems and institutions of exploitation. The backlash against the expansion of these diagnoses is... a ruling class backlash against a demand for change by those who are disabled..."
December 6, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
handle.invalid
Brighton & Sussex Medical School is seeking to appoint a practicing GP as Associate Professor or Professor of General Practice

jobs.sussex.ac.uk/job/cde88946...

@bsmsmedschool.bsky.social #academicprimarycarejobs #primarycareresearch
Clinical Associate Professor or Professor of General Practice Ref: 42195 - Job page - University of Sussex Job Search
jobs.sussex.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
robinince.bsky.social
For the quiet ones #mentalhealth #anxiety #ADHD #autism #neurodiversity

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/norm...
December 2, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
bmhughes.bsky.social
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
thinkingautism.com
Please also know that even if an autistic person goes along with something, that doesn’t mean it's not a problem. Too many autistic people learn that they have no choice other than to submit to discomforts, & also people in their lives may not even register or believe that their distress is real. 3/
November 27, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
leahmcelrath.bsky.social
A powerful thread (and it’s not that long):
ajaxsinger.bsky.social Constantine @ajaxsinger.bsky.social · 5d
LONG RAMBLING EMOTIONAL THREAD:

It's World AIDS Day. Since the Administration has decided to keep it quiet, I'd like to share my introduction to AIDS.

I grew up in Seattle. My mom remarried a man who had a brother who was a King County Sheriff's Deputy. His name was Terry and he was gay. 1/x
December 2, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
newscientist.com
Tumour growth is reduced by exercise due to a shift in the body’s metabolism that means muscle cells outcompete cancer cells in the race to get sugar to grow
We now have a greater understanding of how exercise slows cancer
Tumour growth is reduced by exercise due to a shift in the body’s metabolism that means muscle cells outcompete cancer cells in the race to get sugar to grow
www.newscientist.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
medusaswink.bsky.social
A friend posted this with the observation: Sometimes the best we can do is to reflect the beauty of the universe to others when they can’t see it for themselves
A four panel comic of an axolotl and a chameleon under a starry sky Panel 1: Chameleon: Such beauty in the stars. Axolotl: I can only imagine. Panel 2 Axolotl: I have really poor vision. Chameleon: Oh. Panel 3 As the axolotl sits there, the chameleon gets an idea Panel 4 The chameleon changes its skin to blend with the night sky, and is dark and covered in stars The axolotl is surprised and delighted to be able to see and enjoy the starlight, together
July 19, 2024 at 3:24 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
medusaswink.bsky.social
In support of Morale - a brief essay on #glimmers by Fen Duradìn ☺️

To all #neurodivergents (and maybe some folx who aren’t!) during this #Disability Pride Month:

Light yourselves up! For morale 😉
Fen Druadin Feb 14 • 6 Aha! Dopamine first. That's the key. Okay, hear me out. Several things clicked into place for me yesterday as I was puttering about setting my kitchen in order. I was thinking about how it all started with the fish tank. I hesitated to set up a fish tank, even though I really, really wanted to. Because I knew it would cost money and money is in short supply. I did it anyway because I have finally learned that following my joy always leads to good things. While I was setting it up, taking a bathroom break and scrolling marketplace, the Hoosier popped up. I'd been waiting for one to pop up in my price range, but the timing was bad. I was in the middle of a project, the price was right but it needed… (1/4) project, the price was right but it needed work, and furthermore, I was already spending money I didn't feel like I had. I did it anyway. It was just too perfect. I dropped what I was doing, drove to Marion, loaded her up, and brought her home. In the less than a month since then, I have: * Set up a planted aquarium * Repaired, cleaned, and refurbished the hoosier cabinet * Deep cleaned and organized my kitchen * Organized my bathroom (this was a small job, made possible by moving that wire rack into the bathroom) Alongside all my usual things. The kitchen has been a thorn in my side since we moved here, mostly because of that wire rack and how impossible it was to keep things organized and tidied. Now it's beautiful and it makes me smile. But I couldn't do it before. I just could not do it. So all that, and then yesterday I saw a post (2/4) So all that, and then yesterday I saw a post by The Occuplaytional Therapist, about punishing autistic children by refusing to give them things until they have completed tasks. How it's like telling someone to build a tower with blocks before they're allowed to go get the blocks. You can't do it. You need the blocks. And then that clicked into place with something I learned about dopamine from Alex Korb. Dopamine is not just a reward chemical. It's a MOTIVATION chemical. Aha. Aha aha aha. The reason setting up my fish tank cascaded into all these other things is that I got massive dumps of dopamine from it. Every step just ping ping ping dopamine dopamine dopamine. Which gave me the courage and motivation to take on a bigger project when I saw the hoosier come available. And it was a big project. Under less dopamine-intensive conditions, it would have been an impossible series of executive function… (3/4) Impossible series or execuuve luncuon tasks that would have shut me down entirely. But I did it, and I did it with joy and excitement. And now I understand why. Dopamine first. Which is just a scientific way of saying what l've been feeling for the past three years: Lean into the joy. Every time I choose to step forward into something that just freaking lights me up (hello, dopamine!), it cascades into more beautiful things and more beautiful things. But our culture tells us from infancy that we're not allowed to have the nice things until AFTER we do the hard things. But, y'all! That's backward!!! You need the nice things to fuel the hard work. Holy shit. (4/4)
July 1, 2024 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
cstrawbridgeart.bsky.social
#WhenBeastsSpoke
Fox watched the snowfall, utterly captivated. She could watch forever, her mind drifting along with the snowflakes as they floated and fell with each whisper of wind. Well, maybe not for too long actually, she was getting pretty chilly and quite fancied curling up somewhere warm.
November 30, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
ka81.bsky.social
Ok I need everyone to read this.
That's inclusion. Real inclusion. 👏👏👏♥️♥️♥️

www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) Inclusion Must Be Global, Decolonized, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and Anti-Normative
PDF | In this concluding commentary for our special issue, Neurodiversity-Affirming Intersectional Approaches that Target Public Policy: Moving the... | Find, read and cite all the research you need o...
www.researchgate.net
November 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
helenm40.bsky.social
Paid opportunities for 20 Trans+ creatives - Deadline, Dec 2nd 2025 www.wearequeeraf.com/telltranshis...
Paid opportunities for 20 Trans+ creatives - Deadline, Dec 2nd 2025
Make official content for Trans+ History Week a week to learn and celebrate the millennia-old history of Trans+ people
www.wearequeeraf.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
autisticrealms.bsky.social
Inclusion Must Be Global, Decolonized, Culturally And Linguistically Diverse, And Anti-Normative

by Hari Srinivasan, @drstevenkapp.bsky.social, @drmbothapsych.bsky.social et al Nov 25

A super piece!

Read here:
www.researchgate.net/profile/Kris...
Image of editorial: Journal of Social Issues EDITORIAL Inclusion Must Be Global, Decolonized, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, and Anti-Normative Hari Srinivasan, Timothy Chan, So Yoon Kim, Rita Obeid, Desiree R. Jones, Monique Botha, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Diana W. Tan, T. C. Waisman, Steven K. Kapp, Imene Kassous, Jacqueline Mathaga, Kristen Gillespie-Lynch, : 3 November 2025
November 29, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
amase.org.uk
Among many other things, this zine includes @fergus.oolong.co.uk's speech on behalf of AMASE at this year's Pride In Our Community event.
rtie.org Resisting Transphobia in Edinburgh @rtie.org · 8d
WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED
After the unjust and discriminatory Supreme Court ruling against trans rights on 16 April 2025, as well as the subsequent EHRC guidance – this is a zine documenting and archiving trans people’s voices, art and resistance against the ruling.
rtie.org/2025/11/29/s...
Supreme Injustice
WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED After the unjust and discriminatory Supreme Court ruling against trans rights on 16 April 2025, as well as the subsequent EHRC guidance – this is a zine documenting an…
rtie.org
November 29, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
samuelmoore.org
Interesting investigation into a dodgy Elsevier journal -- with the additional nugget that the CEO of Elsevier's parent company made more than €15 million in total compensation last year.

english.elpais.com/science-tech...
The fall of a prolific science journal exposes the billion-dollar profits of scientific publishing
One of the 15 publications that put out the most studies globally has been expelled from the indexing system for irregularities. Its publisher, Elsevier, has a 38% profit margin that reached $1.5 bill...
english.elpais.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Dr Kelly Birtwell
thrivingautistic.bsky.social
Research Request for Participants
@michelleldodd.bsky.social is looking for participants for a study on how people connect during online conversations.
Find out more
Fill in a short form using the link or QR code ntupsychology.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Email [email protected]
Poster for a study on online conversations. The poster has a golden background with small icons of laptops showing speech and thought bubbles. Text reads: “Are you aged 18+, based in the UK and fluent in English? We’re looking for participants for a study on how people connect during online conversations. You’ll complete questionnaires, have up to two 10-minute chats with other participants and receive up to £7.50. We welcome neurodivergent people (e.g. autism, ADHD). You’ll need: a stable internet connection, Microsoft Teams (on a computer or laptop), and a private, quiet space. Interested? Fill in a short form using the link or QR code https://ntupsychology.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b8jOVXTSVDRSKV0 or email michelle.dodd2023@my.ntu.ac.uk.” The Nottingham Trent University logo, a rainbow infinity symbol, and a QR code are displayed.
November 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM