louisa (she/her)

Psychologist. Researcher. Thrifting enthusiast. Working on projects focussing on a) masking and b) co-designing programs with and for autistic adults.

[my-dailydreams]

[batsandboba]

“scientists don’t want you know” is a phrase that always cracks me up because if you actually meet a scientist they will be shaking and crying like an overstimulated chihuahua with the need to let you know

[drlouisalyman]

Takeaways:

Qualitative research with autistic adults identify that too much of program evaluation looks at "improvement in symptoms", sometimes terribly surrounding "reducing autistic traits", when autistic adults want programs that support in building wellbeing, AND, not having arbitrary goal posts as measurement. Some people will want more social connection in a neurodivergent friendly way, and some people have no interest in social connection. Using scales like the Goal Attainment Scale is important to be able to tailor to specific needs when looking at effectiveness of a group.

Imane Kostet shared a qualitative study asking about BIPOC autistic adults' experiences, finding patterns that often BIPOC autistic people are told they can't really be autistic because people will attribute their neurodivergent traits entirely to cultural differences.

The shoutout to the Autistic Autism Diagnosticians Collective, a group of autistic clinicians who may assess and diagnose autism to come together to develop guidelines for autism assessment from lived experience.

[drlouisalyman]

Introducing the resource page on my website! My hope is for this page to be an easy first step stop to navigate potential resources that can lead to accessing and finding other helpful resources for autistic adults, their loved ones and clinicians.

Here, you'll find any community downloadable resources as well as ones we* will create.

What type(s) of resources would you be looking for? What resources would you add to this list?

Open to suggestions!

*We: Myself and Hanna (amazing graphic designer), as well as in collaboration with anyone who wants to pitch in!

[academic-vampire]

𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔬𝔯 𝔱𝔬 𝔤𝔬?

[drlouisalyman]

"Welcome to the starting point. There can be so many resources available out there. Here are some to start out. Once you’re ready, feel free to return and check out the “Ready for even more?” to find the full selection!"

[drlouisalyman]

Presenting on behalf of the team on understanding the experiences of autistic + trans and gender diverse individuals within the psychiatric emergency department setting.

Better resolution slides:

INSAR Presentation — Dr. Louisa Lok Yee Man

Thank you for attending the oral presentation : Intersectional Experiences of Autistic Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals Receiving Psych

[lliveonthesunn]

every other week, my mom would make a giant pot of vegetable soup. she'd pack half of it in a tupperware and take it to her best friend's house. they both had three kids whose ages aligned. they'd lock us out of the house and go through each room, finding every piece of dirty laundry and then spend the afternoon keeping the washer and dryer running, folding and putting away each load while gossiping.

every alternate week, her best friend would come to our house with a tupperware full of chicken spaghetti. they'd stick us in front of a tv with a stack of disney vhs tapes and go through each room, finding every dirty dish, and then spend the afternoon at the kitchen sink, washing each dish by hand while gossiping.

it wasn't always soup and spaghetti and laundry and dishes. but it was almost always a meal and a chore. here is a night you don't have to cook dinner. here is a chore you can cross off your list. and here is a day you don't have to spend alone. because really food and friendship and a feeling of accomplishment are what we all need most.

[drlouisalyman]

Are you neurodivergent? We are recruiting autistic adults and adults who have been diagnosed with ADHD, Learning Disability, Social Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, or Tic Disorder to join a 90-minute virtual interview via Webex with a loved one.

The interview will be about coping strategies to navigate different aspects of your lives and understanding what’s important to meet both of your needs. Both you and your loved one will be compensated for your time. For more information about this study: https://edc.camhx.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=EYM9LFWACLYHX3RP

[vickisigh]

kaleidoscope 🪲🌼

✧ limited edition print ✧

[vickisigh]

2 WEEKS LEFT to get this postcard on my patreon! available only for the month of april! ✨💌

[ellievsbear]

Forest doodles

[ellievsbear]

Sweet ghost song

[ellievsbear]

Happy strawberry friend

[drlouisalyman]

[ID: Art of a strawberry-themed character carrying a sunflower, surrounded by really cute ghosts. Yellow background. /ID]

[drlouisalyman]

"Study results vary widely and suggest no consensus as to whether individuals with autism prefer IFL or PFL, neither across nor necessarily even within cultures and languages. We present several considerations for members of the autism community (e.g., researchers, clinicians, etc.) regarding use of PFL and IFL, with the ultimate goal of ensuring individual preferences are respected."

Preferences for Identity-First and Person-First Language: A Systematic Review of Research With Autistic Adults/Adults With Autism - Journal

Purpose Recommendations concerning the language used to describe autism center primarily around preferences for person-first language (PFL;

[drlouisalyman]

Autistic grief is not like neurotypical grief - https://thinkingautismguide.com/2012/08/autistic-grief-is-not-like-neurotypical.html

"Until that time, I had never really lost anyone in my family with whom I actually had any sort of relationship. My emotions were strong but I had no way to process or deal with them. I cried a tiny bit in the weeks that he stayed in the hospital in a dark coma, but mostly I was uncomfortable with all the weeping and emotions from my other family members during this time. I was pretty rational and emotionally regulated compared to them and also highly interested in the science, research, and medical facts. It was logical to me to be as armed as possible with knowledge in order to be of some help."

[ellievsbear]

Kappa

[drlouisalyman]

Introducing the resource page on my website! My hope is for this page to be an easy first step stop to navigate potential resources that can lead to accessing and finding other helpful resources for autistic adults, their loved ones and clinicians.

Here, you'll find any community downloadable resources as well as ones we* will create.

What type(s) of resources would you be looking for? What resources would you add to this list?

Open to suggestions!

*We: Myself and Hanna (amazing graphic designer), as well as in collaboration with anyone who wants to pitch in!