Category Archives: Diversity

Struggling through education and work oblivious to my autism

Growing up As far as my parents and I were aware, I was normal.  Okay, so my development and behaviour may have been unusual at times, like in my eighteen-month development check when I built the Great Wall of China with building bricks instead of the anticipated tower, my solo role-playing games (spending whole weekendsContinue reading “Struggling through education and work oblivious to my autism”

Autism Awareness Month

Please don’t copy and paste random crap from social media for “Autism Awareness Month” this April with a bunch of platitudes, blue hearts and jigsaw pieces 💙💙💙 You do know #autistic people – it is not that rare. To increase your own awareness, try asking an autistic person to explain to you how their autism affects them.Continue reading “Autism Awareness Month”

Reflecting on one year of working from home in a pandemic

Pandemic reflection: If this year since the first Covid-19 lockdown (UK) has taught employers anything, it is the need to be agile and respond to changes in the external environment plus the changing needs of the workforce. Responding quickly to office closures required not just investment in enabling technology, but also rapid culture change, aContinue reading “Reflecting on one year of working from home in a pandemic”

What being an ally means to me

Being an ally means supporting people and promoting acceptance of normal human differences. Allies can help to create a culture where all individuals feel supported, included, and valued. Sometimes allies stand up to bullying and discrimination, helping people to feel safe to be their authentic selves. Nobody should be bullied or excluded due to normalContinue reading “What being an ally means to me”

Weird Pride Day #WeirdPrideDay 4 March

Some things I do which are normal to me, but may be considered weird by others. By Charlie Hart (Ausome Charlie) When it’s foggy, I stand in the middle of a mown field, so I’m in a perfect hemisphere. When it is misty, I walk up a big hill and take many photos of farmContinue reading “Weird Pride Day #WeirdPrideDay 4 March”

Iggy’s Initiative Introduction

Nobody should have to feel weird, ashamed, rejected, excluded, isolated due to their sexual orientation or their gender expression, nor due to their disability or neurological differences, nor any other human characteristic, but sadly this happens all the time. Young people, especially teenagers, can be particularly affected by lack of acceptance and support. An alarmingContinue reading “Iggy’s Initiative Introduction”

The Double Rainbow

Intersectional Diversity: The ‘Double Rainbow’ of Autism and LGBTQIA+ Here are Charlie’s answers to questions they were recently asked about their lived experience of the ‘double rainbow’. Can you explain what the term ‘double rainbow’ means? Studies show that autistic people are far more likely identify as a sexuality minority and/or a gender minority, comparedContinue reading “The Double Rainbow”

Unsolicited advice from supposed neurotypical

Last June I was on the train to London. I was disorganised, panicking that I’d forgotten my phone charger, rooting flustered through every pocket of my laptop bag, awkwardly asking the management consultant type opposite me if I had dropped my credit card (which was actually safe in my coat pocket). Later he asked meContinue reading “Unsolicited advice from supposed neurotypical”

Making the Stonewall Top 100 Inclusive Employers List

What it means to me that my employer made it into the Stonewall Top 100: I have always been passionate about diversity and inclusion, partly because I am #autistic and bisexual and hence I identify as a member of an intersectional minority group. In our family there are gay, bisexual and gender-fluid young people, someContinue reading “Making the Stonewall Top 100 Inclusive Employers List”