Happy Bearded Optimist - Researcher in super perception & autism at @CRAE_IOE @UCL. PhD in Specialist (Autism) Mentoring in HE at @UoBautism… and Mentor. Aphant
Joined April 2007
- Tweets 3,109
- Following 484
- Followers 701
- Likes 7,417
146 Photos and videos
Brian Irvine retweeted
Apr 23
It’s encouraging to see a packed room for the Autistic People’s Views panel (@drstevenkapp) at #INSAR2026.
I’ll note the majority here are YOUNG researchers (not veterans). That’s such an apt commentary on the past/current state of autism research, but also its hopeful future.
ALT Dr. Steven Kapp speaks to a room of autism researchers at INSAR 2026.
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Can virtual reality help dismantle barriers to inclusion?
Our next #CRAEwebinar looking at the possibilities of VR as an autism support tool will be with fantastic Nate Caruana.
4th Feb 10am gmt
Free registration at:
eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-r…
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Come celebrate CRAE's leadership transition with us! Join us on 15th Jan to celebrate Anna's 9 years as Director, and to welcome Mel to the helm. Free tickets (must be pre-booked) available here:
eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrati…
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On #IDPD, and as part of #DisabilityHistoryMonth our research summary blogs have revisited a piece of autism research history that continues to shape our thinking about research today. The enduring legacy of ‘A Future Made Together’:
crae.ioe.ac.uk/a-future-made…
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Brian Irvine retweeted
1 Dec 2025
It's important to remind people of the true meaning of Christmas: ghosts terrorising rich people in the middle of the night until they agree to pay their employees more.
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Brian Irvine retweeted
28 Nov 2025
🎉 5/ Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou (@JoPavlopoulou) has been appointed Chair of the NHS Commission for the National Autism Peer Programme, Autism Central, after leading a successful £6 million bid.
ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/new…
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1/ The @HLAutismActCom report notes that the rise in public awareness of autism has not led to better understanding and acceptance of autistic people.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
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Another #CRAEwebinar booked in! February seems a long way away, but you might want to sign up now to hear from Nate Caruana on how VR can help us understand and improve the social experiences of autistic people.
eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-r…
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<A nudge for those of us working at Unis>
Do sign up to join us for next week's #CRAEwebinar.
Jada Brown will be speaking on 'Understanding the embodied experiences of Black, autistic university students in the UK'
Thur 6th Nov 4pm gmt
eventbrite.co.uk/e/understan…
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New #CRAEresearchSummary
Brian Irvine considers the role of framing and reframing in Specialist Autism Mentoring at UK Universities
crae.ioe.ac.uk/mobilising-sp…
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Brian Irvine retweeted
20 Oct 2025
Our paper has recently been published in @AutismAdulthood:
“Trapped in a No-Win Situation”: A Qualitative Exploration of Autistic Adults’ Experiences of Loneliness
tinyurl.com/2yeuch6j Co-authored with @LauraMayCrane and @annaremington @CRAE_IOE @IOE_London @ucl
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Brian Irvine retweeted
10 Oct 2025
On #BBCQT - Fiona Bruce said that the audience and public didn't want to press Reform UK on their dodgy links to Russia.
I disagree.
RT if you agree it's in the public interest for Reform to explain about their links to Russian money and bribery!
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Today, CRAE’s Mel & Brian were delighted to join the City Lit #MentalWealth Festival with the great MH TedXer Shaun Flores and NHS ND Network founder Hannah Jones. We bounced around neurodiversity paradigm & movement, mentoring & employability. Full house. Great crowd… 🤩
ALT Brian & Mel in front of the CityLit Slide
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Brian Irvine retweeted
1 Oct 2025
We’re delighted to welcome Channel 4 The Piano finalist 🎹 Michael Howell as a Skylarks Ambassador! 🧡 A passionate supporter of our charity, Michael will help us champion inclusion and inspire families through the power of music. ✨ #SkylarksCharity
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Brian Irvine retweeted
23 Sep 2025
Neurodiversity continues to rise, so it’s important our workplaces keep up!
Join experts @theshaunflores @BigBadBee @MelRomualdez and Hannah Jones to chat about neurodiversity in the workplace 🧠
📆 Thurs 9 Oct
🕰️ 12pm - 1pm
🏠 @citylit
Tickets here: citylit.ac.uk/courses/neurod…
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Brian Irvine retweeted
22 Sep 2025
Autism advocacy has changed in recent decades, but fundamentally the dynamic is still that a demagogue preys on fears to offer false causation & 'treatment'. Somehow at a time when trust in government has plummeted, people listen to someone with no scientific or medical training
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CRAE’s @SamuelDexxter has a new blog post over on BERA, the British Educational Research Association
A worthwhile read for those involved with careers, employment or education.
bera.ac.uk/blog/supporting-a…
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