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Autistic Perspectives to be Explored in Third Bishop Grosseteste University Participatory Autism Research Symposium.
Wednesday 16th November 2pm -
BGU alum Pete Wharmby launches new book on life with autism
Former Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) student, Pete Wharmby, has published his second book, "Untypical: How the World Isn't Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About It". The speaker and writer explores the topic of autism and the autistic experience. His work seeks to elevate the public's awareness of autism and highlight the unique challenges faced by autistic individuals in a world that does not always accommodate their needs. At the age of 14, Pete moved to Lincolnshire with his family. After completing his teacher training in English and Drama at BGU in 2008, he spent the next 13 years teaching, including at schools around Lincolnshire. It wasn't until 2017 that he received his autism diagnosis, which came as a turning point in his life. According to Pete, his diagnosis allowed him to finally understand why he had always felt different. He said: "It was a profound sense of relief to have my diagnosis confirmed. All the miscommunications and hyper fixations I'd had started to make sense. "I also realised that I had been able to connect so well with the autistic students I had taught because we had the same type of brain. I continued to teach with a renewed determination to create safe and welcoming spaces for my students, particularly those with autism." With a newfound understanding of his condition, he began to explore and share his experiences, which culminated in his first book, "What I Want to Talk About: How Autistic Special Interests Shape a Life" in 2022. The inaugural publication takes readers on a journey through his special interests, illuminating the challenges of autistic experience along the way. According to Pete, there's a significant lack of knowledge surrounding autism, and even well-meaning people can make common mistakes around communicating with autistic people. His second book, Untypical, seeks to shine a light on the condition for non-autistic people, offering suggestions of how people can better support the individuals in their life with autism. Preferring to offer a "warts-and-all" portrayal of autism, Pete promotes an authentic representation of what it is like to live with the condition, although he acknowledges that every autistic person will have different experiences. He aims to dispel myths and misconceptions and inspire open discussion around neurodiversity. Pete said: "It's actually quite handy being known as an autistic person, because I don't have to mask when I first meet people. "I did one public talk where I had an autistic meltdown just before I was due to speak. I could've cancelled it at the last minute, but instead I took it as an opportunity to share the experience with the audience; to speak about what had happened and the emotions I was experiencing." Pete regularly speaks at conferences and events, often as the keynote speaker, on topics such as autism in education, the experience of autistic students and teachers, the importance of monotropism and special interests and much more. Learn more about Pete and his work here. -
New book by BGU community on Autism and Creativity published
Creativity in Autism (Emerald publishing) is a new book by Dr Clare Lawrence and Olivia Macnab, published this month. Clare is Associate Professor of Participatory Autism Research at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), and has been a writer, researcher and autism advocate for nearly 20 years. Olivia Macnab graduated from BGU in 2023 with a first-class degree in Applied Drama and is now working as a freelance creative practitioner. The book firmly dispels the myth that autistic people lack imagination or the ability to work creatively, especially regarding language. The book reports on two recent projects undertaken at BGU: a Shared Reading project, where excerpts from literature were used as a scaffold for autistic people to discuss their lived experience of autism, and a Creative Writing group that brought together voices to explore and articulate neurodiversity through the written word. Olivia said: “I'm so excited to put this work out into the world. I think it's incredibly important for everyone to gain an understanding of the autistic experience, and a book like this - featuring the creative expression of autistic people - is one of the most valuable ways of doing it.” According to Clare, the book foregrounds autistic people in so many aspects as contributors – all of the people who have worked together to create this book identify as members of the wider autistic community, from writers, group members, designers, cover illustrators and the foreword writer. She said: “We were privileged, too, that Helen Kara wrote our introduction. She is a renowned expert in this field and her endorsement means a great deal”. There will be a formal launch celebration of the book as part of BGU’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference in July, with a public talk by the writers, the showcasing of artefacts and anthologies that have emerged from the projects and, of course, copies of the book to be signed. Keep a look out for further details nearer the time! -
I went to the LORIC autism café and this is how it went…
The next Autism Ideas café event will be held on Wednesday 19th May from 10am-12pm using MS Teams.It is open to anyone with an interest in autism, and we particularly welcome autistic staff and students, or those who are autism allies to attend. You can register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/loric-autism-ideas-cafe-may-2021-tickets-142215718041 Not sure if it's for you? Read the experiences of one of our students who attended the last event below: -
Senior Lecturer discusses autism and English in National Association for Teaching of English magazine
Dr Clare Lawrence, writes about alternative forms of communication in the classroom. -
Dr Clare Lawrence
Clare is Associate Professor of Participatory Autism Research, as well as the English subject lead on the secondary PGCE course. She is a graduate of York, Oxford, Northumbria, Birmingham, and Sheffield Hallam universities. Her PhD is in parental involvement in the education of children with autism. Clare is the East Midlands Convenor for the Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC) as well as being Lincolnshire County Council Autism Champion for BGU. -
Dementia-Friendly Movie at The Venue
We all have a favourite film where classic one-liners and the musical score create a sense of nostalgia. Cinemas can provide a powerful way for those living with dementia to reconnect with their memories. Now Lincoln cinema The Venue at Bishop Grosseteste University is working in partnership with the Lincoln Alzheimer’s Society to show a dementia-friendly screening of Singin’ in the Rain on Wednesday 18th May. The screening coincides with Dementia Awareness Week (15th to 21st May) and BGU is promoting this film as being particularly suitable for people affected by dementia and their partners, family and carers. Among the benefits for viewers are increased lighting in the auditorium, reduced sound levels and no adverts or trailers preceding the fim. Jane Vincent, Senior Conferencing and Events Officer at BGU, said: “Dementia-friendly cinema will be a great addition to our programme and sits alongside our Relaxed Screenings, which take place one Sunday per month. “These special performances, planned and delivered in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Society and Grantham Autism Information Network, have subtle changes to the cinema environment which mean that people who have sensory difficulties have a more positive experience than they would in a traditional cinema setting.” Tickets for the dementia-friendly film cost £4.50 and carers can go for free. You can purchase your tickets via www.thevenuelincoln.co.uk -
BGU Lecturers Showcase Innovative Research at Storytelling Conference
Two Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) lecturers had the opportunity to share their research at the 2018 Storytelling Conference at the University of Suffolk earlier this month. -
BGU Lecturer Shares Strategies for Global Inclusion in China
Dr Maria Efstratopoulou from Bishop Grossteste University (BGU) was recently invited to the Sport University of Beijing (BSU) to deliver a series of seminars and practical workshops. -
Lecturer’s “Valuable Work” Provides Insight into Early ADHD and ASD Diagnosis
Dr Maria Efstratopoulou, Senior Lecturer in Special Education Needs and Inclusion at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), was invited to join the NIPS Seminars where she shared research insights on early diagnosis of ADHD and ASD with Mental Health professionals from across Lincolnshire. The NIPS Seminars bring researchers and academics, medical and clinical professionals, community practitioners, independent and personal voices together in one space to share their insights and to support an informed community. Their aim is to create supportive, accessible, dynamic environments where we can discuss important mental health in relation to children and young adults. As one of the event’s guest speakers Dr Efstratopoulou led a discussion on ADHD and ASD research and support which was warmly received both during and after the seminar: “The early diagnosis of ADHD and Autism is a subject of great interest to me so I was really happy to have a positive reaction and many questions from the audience. What’s great is that engagement has continued after the seminar and I have received several emails from parents and professionals asking for further advice.” Lauren Burlinson, the founder of NIPS, was full of praise for Dr Efstratopoulou’s contribution: “We are incredibly proud to have had Maria come along and talk to our audience. Her work is valuable and supportive of those wanting to know more about both ADHD and ASD, sharing research and insight which is currently much-needed within the general public. We very much hope to work with Maria again and are glad to have had the chance to involve her in a NIPS event” A specialist handbook was also created for the seminar, to which Maria contributed an article on her discussion topic. This can be accessed online for free here. Our academics are regularly invited to present at conferences and events around the world, you can follow all their travels on our news page and find out how you can start your own adventures on our course pages.
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