Mandy Cook - The Autistic Teacher

The theory of the double empathy problem is a psychological and sociological theory first coined in 2012 by Damian Milton, an autistic autism researcher. The Double Empathy Problem challenges the assumption that empathy is a one-way street, emphasising the importance of reciprocal understanding in social interactions. People of different world and life experiences will struggle to understand each other because of a difference in expectation, processing and perception.

I am autistic ❤️ Being autistic is who I am.
Edit and update: fully aware there may be some controversy in the comments… (yes, there are cultural differences and the UK more readily accepts Autistic - See NAS survey and guidance)
Please be polite. The autistic person’s preference should always be used.

You can't 'have autism', you can however be autistic.

Looking at the temperatures for the week ahead… not going to lie… for someone who is heat sensitive… it’s making me anxious!
I’m prepping… cool blanket for nights, cool/wet scarf for around my neck, hand held fan and bottles and bottles of water!
School buildings in the UK seem to hold the heat… my class will be counting ice cubes in maths, eating freeze pops and spending as much time as possible under the trees outside! 🥵😬
What will you do to stay cool?

A full, fantastic day at the autism and adhd show in London, listening to some amazing speakers and meeting people I’ve known through the internet in real life… but what made the day really lovely was seeing friends. Some people you only see once in a while but just know, they’re your people. Honestly, a fantastic day.

Today I’m at the in London. Lovely to meet some friends and followers here! ❤️

Today is Autistic Pride Day!!! Today is a day to celebrate being Autistic and be proud of who you are. Yes, none of us are perfect… but as Autistic or neurodivergent people, we often hear the worst about ourselves first. Today is the time to think about our strengths and values.
You are an amazing, valued, loved neurodivergent person who deserves to be heard, respected and appreciated. Be you. # # #❤️

Happy Autistic Pride Day. 🌈♾️

Autistic Pride Day isn’t about claiming that being autistic is easy, or pretending there aren’t real challenges. It’s about recognising that autistic people do not need to become less autistic in order to be valued, respected, and included.

It’s about celebrating autistic ways of thinking, communicating, learning, creating, problem-solving, and experiencing the world.

It’s about acknowledging the strengths many autistic people bring, whilst also recognising the barriers, misunderstandings, and lack of support that can make life harder than it needs to be.

And perhaps most importantly, it’s about belonging.

For every autistic child who has been told they are “too much” or “not enough”.

For every autistic adult who spent years wondering why they felt different.

For every parent, teacher, professional, and ally who is learning to see autism through a lens of understanding rather than deficit.

Today is a reminder that autistic people deserve acceptance, accommodations, and opportunities to thrive exactly as they are.

Happy Autistic Pride Day. 🌈

Be proud of who you are.💛