On this page
- Autistic Joy and Other Hopeful Poems
- Chillout Classical Piano
- Empowering Autistic Youth – Introducing the ACTIVATE Project
- Joyful Degrees: Autistic Adjustments at University
- Music, word-sounds and the taste of languages: vocal stims and autistic joy
- The joy of autistic parenting: how to build healthy and safe attachment in an autistic family
- Now I wanna think about all the good times - The joys of Breaking the Boundaries
- Abstract collage workshop
- Sensory joy to the rescue: emotional containers and portable safe spaces
- Report from Japan: the radically integrated approach of Tōjisha-kenkyū
- An autistic application of Tōjisha-kenkyū: Otoemojite self-help group, Japan
- The Joy of Engineering
Last updated: 26 Jan 2025
Autistic Joy and Other Hopeful Poems
- Presenter:
- Kate Fox
- Description:
- Stand-up poet and Radio 4 regular Kate Fox will perform some of her pieces from last year’s hit Autscape show, the Dr Who-themed “Bigger on the Inside”, plus other poems which invoke autistic joy!
Chillout Classical Piano
- Presenter:
- Madge Woollard
- Description:
- A selection of favourite chillout classical piano pieces.
Empowering Autistic Youth – Introducing the ACTIVATE Project
- Presenters:
- Lyric Schranz, Emily Slater and Tokyo Attard
- Description:
- TBA
Joyful Degrees: Autistic Adjustments at University
- Presenter:
- Harriet Axbey
- Description:
- Autistic students at university face many challenges; from applying to graduating, there are barriers in higher education that affect those who are neurodivergent. However, universities are starting to realise this, and there is now a growing body of research into adjustments that can help Autistic people to thrive in a higher education setting. For my new book, I contacted universities to ask what provision they had for Autistic students, and complied some experiences from Autistic people themselves. In this lecture I will outline some of the things that universities can do, and are currently doing, to ensure Autistic students can get the most out of their education.
Music, word-sounds and the taste of languages: vocal stims and autistic joy
- Presenter:
- Max Marnau
- Description:
- This is a workshop about word-sounds and music and and the “taste” of the music and word- sounds together in different languages. You could call it a session of vocal stimming. Different languages have different “tastes”, just as the foods of different countries have different tastes. We will experience the “taste” of nine languages through nine traditional songs (lyrics provided). No musical knowledge or ability is required, nor is knowledge of any of the languages that will be used: this is about the joy of sound, not performance.
The joy of autistic parenting: how to build healthy and safe attachment in an autistic family
- Presenter:
- Joanna Ławicka
- Description:
- TBA
Now I wanna think about all the good times - The joys of Breaking the Boundaries
- Presenter:
- Jorik Mol
- Description:
- Jorik's first book of 2025 is Breaking the Boundaries, describing his experiences as a lived experience mentor of autistic higher education students. These stories highlight the particular joys of being neuroqueer and finding one's community, gender joy, the joy of art, the joy of hyperfocus and the joy of fighting the good fight.
Abstract collage workshop
- Presenter:
- Laura Buckland Mason
- Description:
-
Have a go at making an abstract collage using simple materials and techniques.
Required materials: white A4 paper or card, scissors, glue stick/Pritt stick (or PVA glue, matte Mod Podge or gel medium and a brush).
Plus either a) coloured paper in 5-8 different colours, b) magazines to cut up (preferably ones with full-page adverts) and/or c) a selection of 5-8 found papers (newspaper, catalogues, used envelopes, old wrapping paper, tissue paper, paper or foil sweet wrappers, receipts etc).
Optional materials: pencil, ruler, craft knife and cutting mat, craft hole punches (particularly circles), black/white/metallic pens.
Sensory joy to the rescue: emotional containers and portable safe spaces
- Presenter:
- Alicja Nocon
- Description:
-
It's well-known that having a more sensitive nervous system means that autistic people experience more sensory triggers and are more easily dysregulated. But what if we could use our sensory sensitivity to our advantage to bring a sense of peace and joy to helps us get through difficult experiences?
In this presentation, I will share a number of practical ways using sensory joy to help contain overwhelming emotions and prepare for unfamiliar of predictably stressful situations, based on my own experience and the experiences of my clients.
Report from Japan: the radically integrated approach of Tōjisha-kenkyū
- Presenter:
- Martijn Dekker
- Description:
-
In the Japanese language of the last 25 years, tōjisha (当事者) is a versatile word that refers to anyone who experiences discrimination in mainstream society, such as people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, victims of violence and abuse, or any other kind of disadvantaged minority – whereas kenkyū (研究) simply means research. Many tōjisha are harmed in ways that cannot be described in current mainstream language, making their experiences literally unspeakable. Tōjisha-kenkyū (当事者研究) is a relatively new method and movement in which groups of tōjisha systematically discover, develop and take charge of a conceptual framework that describes their experiences, creating a solid base for peer support, advocacy and emancipation.
At the University of Tokyo's Tōjisha-kenkyū Kumagaya Laboratory, led by Prof. Shin-ichiro Kumagaya who is himself a tōjisha with cerebral palsy, the Tōjisha-kenkyū movement interfaces directly with mainstream science to develop a peer-reviewed evidence base for the experiences and concepts developed by this radical form of collaborative self-research.
In September 2024, Heta Pukki and Martijn Dekker were invited to Japan to speak at an international neurodiversity symposium organised out of this laboratory, and during that trip they were introduced to the fascinating idea and practice of Tōjisha-kenkyū. This presentation reports on what we learned and experienced, and discusses how these learnings may inspire the neurodiversity movement in the West.
An autistic application of Tōjisha-kenkyū: Otoemojite self-help group, Japan
- Presenter:
- Satsuki Ayaya
- Description:
- This presentation dives more deeply into the practice of Tōjisha-kenkyū by reporting in detail on the experiences gathered while running the autistic-led “Otoemojite” group. The presentation is in Japanese with English subtitles.
The Joy of Engineering
- Presenter:
- Barnabear
- Description:
-
Repeated from Autscape 2024, this talk draws on historic and current autistic figures in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), and the speaker's own experience to explore the intrinsic motivation and joy that comes from challenge and achievement in these sectors.
The talk looks at first steps in self-discovery as an engineer and how one might enjoy engineering on an informal basis.
This light-hearted talk is suitable for all ages.