Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics
@semascot.bsky.social
We strive to improve understanding of being autistic from the various communities of the Global Majority.
www.sema.scot
www.sema.scot
If your organisation wants to understand and build safer support systems, we can work with you through consultancy, training and resource development.
#16Days #EndGenderBasedViolence #RacialisedAutistics #DisabilityJustice #CulturalSafety
#SEMA #NoExcuse
#16Days #EndGenderBasedViolence #RacialisedAutistics #DisabilityJustice #CulturalSafety
#SEMA #NoExcuse
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
If your organisation wants to understand and build safer support systems, we can work with you through consultancy, training and resource development.
#16Days #EndGenderBasedViolence #RacialisedAutistics #DisabilityJustice #CulturalSafety
#SEMA #NoExcuse
#16Days #EndGenderBasedViolence #RacialisedAutistics #DisabilityJustice #CulturalSafety
#SEMA #NoExcuse
If you are a service provider, educator, clinician, organiser or faith leader, the question is not whether you have policies in place. It is whether those policies work for racialised Autistic survivors who communicate, express distress or seek support differently.
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
If you are a service provider, educator, clinician, organiser or faith leader, the question is not whether you have policies in place. It is whether those policies work for racialised Autistic survivors who communicate, express distress or seek support differently.
• Trauma-informed practice must be designed with survivors, not for them
• Prevention requires addressing power, not advising survivors to avoid harm
• Prevention requires addressing power, not advising survivors to avoid harm
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
• Trauma-informed practice must be designed with survivors, not for them
• Prevention requires addressing power, not advising survivors to avoid harm
• Prevention requires addressing power, not advising survivors to avoid harm
At SEMA, we advocate for approaches that recognise:
• Racialised Autistic people experience violence in ways not captured by standard narratives
• Safety must include cultural safety, sensory safety and identity dignity
• Racialised Autistic people experience violence in ways not captured by standard narratives
• Safety must include cultural safety, sensory safety and identity dignity
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
At SEMA, we advocate for approaches that recognise:
• Racialised Autistic people experience violence in ways not captured by standard narratives
• Safety must include cultural safety, sensory safety and identity dignity
• Racialised Autistic people experience violence in ways not captured by standard narratives
• Safety must include cultural safety, sensory safety and identity dignity
Many racialised Autistic survivors are not believed because their communication is misread. Sensory responses are pathologised. Cultural or faith barriers make disclosure difficult. And services are often designed around those who are white, verbal, and already familiar with support systems.
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Many racialised Autistic survivors are not believed because their communication is misread. Sensory responses are pathologised. Cultural or faith barriers make disclosure difficult. And services are often designed around those who are white, verbal, and already familiar with support systems.
If you are a teacher, clinician, community leader or service provider, consider:
Do the men in your space have room to speak before they break?
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
Do the men in your space have room to speak before they break?
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
If you are a teacher, clinician, community leader or service provider, consider:
Do the men in your space have room to speak before they break?
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
Do the men in your space have room to speak before they break?
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
Support must allow men to be human, not silent.
At SEMA, we work to create spaces where racialised Autistic men can speak without being corrected, minimised or pathologised. Where vulnerability is not treated as a weakness. Where support does not depend on performing strength first.
At SEMA, we work to create spaces where racialised Autistic men can speak without being corrected, minimised or pathologised. Where vulnerability is not treated as a weakness. Where support does not depend on performing strength first.
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Support must allow men to be human, not silent.
At SEMA, we work to create spaces where racialised Autistic men can speak without being corrected, minimised or pathologised. Where vulnerability is not treated as a weakness. Where support does not depend on performing strength first.
At SEMA, we work to create spaces where racialised Autistic men can speak without being corrected, minimised or pathologised. Where vulnerability is not treated as a weakness. Where support does not depend on performing strength first.
• Misinterpreted as anger, aggression or disinterest
• Dismissed due to assumptions about culture or gender
• Seen as “overreaction” instead of communication
• Silenced by fear of judgment within both services and community spaces
• Dismissed due to assumptions about culture or gender
• Seen as “overreaction” instead of communication
• Silenced by fear of judgment within both services and community spaces
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
• Misinterpreted as anger, aggression or disinterest
• Dismissed due to assumptions about culture or gender
• Seen as “overreaction” instead of communication
• Silenced by fear of judgment within both services and community spaces
• Dismissed due to assumptions about culture or gender
• Seen as “overreaction” instead of communication
• Silenced by fear of judgment within both services and community spaces
These statistics are not just numbers. They reflect environments where men are encouraged to suppress distress, avoid seeking support, and remain silent under the expectation of strength.
For racialised Autistic men, emotional expression is often:
For racialised Autistic men, emotional expression is often:
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
These statistics are not just numbers. They reflect environments where men are encouraged to suppress distress, avoid seeking support, and remain silent under the expectation of strength.
For racialised Autistic men, emotional expression is often:
For racialised Autistic men, emotional expression is often:
• For racialised Autistic men, the risk is intensified by cultural stigma, racism, masking and being misunderstood by services
(Research: Autistica, 2022; Community feedback and racialised autism studies)
(Research: Autistica, 2022; Community feedback and racialised autism studies)
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
• For racialised Autistic men, the risk is intensified by cultural stigma, racism, masking and being misunderstood by services
(Research: Autistica, 2022; Community feedback and racialised autism studies)
(Research: Autistica, 2022; Community feedback and racialised autism studies)
• In Scotland, approximately 74% of suicide deaths are among men
(Source: Public Health Scotland, 2023)
• Suicide rates are highest among men aged 25–54
(Source: ONS / PHS)
(Source: Public Health Scotland, 2023)
• Suicide rates are highest among men aged 25–54
(Source: ONS / PHS)
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
• In Scotland, approximately 74% of suicide deaths are among men
(Source: Public Health Scotland, 2023)
• Suicide rates are highest among men aged 25–54
(Source: ONS / PHS)
(Source: Public Health Scotland, 2023)
• Suicide rates are highest among men aged 25–54
(Source: ONS / PHS)
If you are revisiting practice or training this month, begin by asking:
Who is being spoken about, and who is being spoken with?
#IslamophobiaAwarenessMonth
#FlipTheScript
#AutisticAndMuslim
#RacialisedAutistics
#CulturalSafety
Who is being spoken about, and who is being spoken with?
#IslamophobiaAwarenessMonth
#FlipTheScript
#AutisticAndMuslim
#RacialisedAutistics
#CulturalSafety
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
If you are revisiting practice or training this month, begin by asking:
Who is being spoken about, and who is being spoken with?
#IslamophobiaAwarenessMonth
#FlipTheScript
#AutisticAndMuslim
#RacialisedAutistics
#CulturalSafety
Who is being spoken about, and who is being spoken with?
#IslamophobiaAwarenessMonth
#FlipTheScript
#AutisticAndMuslim
#RacialisedAutistics
#CulturalSafety
At SEMA, we do not ask Autistic Muslims to adapt to environments that erase parts of who they are.
We support organisations, schools and community groups to design spaces where faith, culture and neurodivergence are understood as intertwined.
We support organisations, schools and community groups to design spaces where faith, culture and neurodivergence are understood as intertwined.
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
At SEMA, we do not ask Autistic Muslims to adapt to environments that erase parts of who they are.
We support organisations, schools and community groups to design spaces where faith, culture and neurodivergence are understood as intertwined.
We support organisations, schools and community groups to design spaces where faith, culture and neurodivergence are understood as intertwined.
• Cultural stigma that discourages asking for help
• Policies that are made without Autistic Muslims in the room
• Policies that are made without Autistic Muslims in the room
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
• Cultural stigma that discourages asking for help
• Policies that are made without Autistic Muslims in the room
• Policies that are made without Autistic Muslims in the room
For many Autistic Muslims, the barriers are not personal. They are systemic:
• Community spaces that do not account for sensory needs
• Services that misinterpret communication differences
• Assumptions that faith and neurodivergence cannot coexist
• Community spaces that do not account for sensory needs
• Services that misinterpret communication differences
• Assumptions that faith and neurodivergence cannot coexist
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
For many Autistic Muslims, the barriers are not personal. They are systemic:
• Community spaces that do not account for sensory needs
• Services that misinterpret communication differences
• Assumptions that faith and neurodivergence cannot coexist
• Community spaces that do not account for sensory needs
• Services that misinterpret communication differences
• Assumptions that faith and neurodivergence cannot coexist
Flipping the script means shifting the focus:
From individual prejudice to the structures that decide whose voice is credible, whose safety is protected, and whose identity is treated as an inconvenience.
From individual prejudice to the structures that decide whose voice is credible, whose safety is protected, and whose identity is treated as an inconvenience.
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Flipping the script means shifting the focus:
From individual prejudice to the structures that decide whose voice is credible, whose safety is protected, and whose identity is treated as an inconvenience.
From individual prejudice to the structures that decide whose voice is credible, whose safety is protected, and whose identity is treated as an inconvenience.
We are here to support organisations and communities to build environments where racialised Autistic men are heard, believed and supported with dignity.
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
#SEMA
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
#SEMA
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
We are here to support organisations and communities to build environments where racialised Autistic men are heard, believed and supported with dignity.
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
#SEMA
#InternationalMensDay
#MentalHealthMatters
#RacialisedAutistics
#AutisticMen
#CulturalSafety
#SEMA
Support cannot be built on the assumption that men must first perform resilience in order to be helped.
If you are a community leader, educator, clinician or service provider, pause and ask:
Who is allowed to be vulnerable in your space?
Who is expected to carry their pain in silence?
If you are a community leader, educator, clinician or service provider, pause and ask:
Who is allowed to be vulnerable in your space?
Who is expected to carry their pain in silence?
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Support cannot be built on the assumption that men must first perform resilience in order to be helped.
If you are a community leader, educator, clinician or service provider, pause and ask:
Who is allowed to be vulnerable in your space?
Who is expected to carry their pain in silence?
If you are a community leader, educator, clinician or service provider, pause and ask:
Who is allowed to be vulnerable in your space?
Who is expected to carry their pain in silence?
At SEMA, we work to create spaces where racialised Autistic men can speak about identity, faith, emotional overwhelm, burnout, masking, and belonging without being judged, dismissed or reduced to stereotypes.
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
At SEMA, we work to create spaces where racialised Autistic men can speak about identity, faith, emotional overwhelm, burnout, masking, and belonging without being judged, dismissed or reduced to stereotypes.
• Distress is frequently seen as defiance, aggression or indifference
• Accessing support may require navigating systems that do not feel safe
• Accessing support may require navigating systems that do not feel safe
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
• Distress is frequently seen as defiance, aggression or indifference
• Accessing support may require navigating systems that do not feel safe
• Accessing support may require navigating systems that do not feel safe
For racialised Autistic men:
• Emotional expression is frequently misinterpreted or pathologised
• Cultural stigma can make it difficult to ask for support
• Masking is often encouraged from a young age to appear “controlled” or “respectable”
• Emotional expression is frequently misinterpreted or pathologised
• Cultural stigma can make it difficult to ask for support
• Masking is often encouraged from a young age to appear “controlled” or “respectable”
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
For racialised Autistic men:
• Emotional expression is frequently misinterpreted or pathologised
• Cultural stigma can make it difficult to ask for support
• Masking is often encouraged from a young age to appear “controlled” or “respectable”
• Emotional expression is frequently misinterpreted or pathologised
• Cultural stigma can make it difficult to ask for support
• Masking is often encouraged from a young age to appear “controlled” or “respectable”