Blog
Neurodiversity and Military Hierarchy: Thriving as a Neurodivergent RAF Officer
Neurodiversity and the military are not often spoken about together. I'm sometimes asked, being late diagnosed autistic and ADHD, how did I cope as a former officer in the Royal Air Force? How did I cope in such a rigid, rank-based system?
It’s assumed that hierarchy must be intolerable for neurodivergent people, but the reality is far more nuanced.
Online Fraud Is Rising With the Use of Artificial Intelligence and It Has a Disproportionate Impact on Those With Neurodivergence
It can’t be denied that the rise of neurodiversity awareness is a positive thing, but with the rate of fraud and online scams also rising, the impact on neurodivergent individuals is now considered to be more severe than that on neurotypicals. According to the National Crime Agency, fraud is the most prevalent crime against individuals, accounting for about 41% of all crime in the Crime Survey for England and Wales in 2024, which is astonishing if one considers that most fraud is still unreported due to feeling of shame.
My Review of The Willows in Lincoln, a Specialist School for Children With Autism or Similar Needs.
I recently visited The Willows school in Lincoln on its open day and enjoyed a guided tour to see the amenities. This independent specialist school is due to open imminently (as of January 2026) for a small cohort and will be open to pupils between 5 and 15 years of age. As a neurodivergent person, I strongly believe in the importance of education which caters primarily to the individual rather than the establishment and The Willows did not disappoint. The staff were caring, the facilities inviting, and the school offers a learning approach which is adaptable. Children will need a specialist Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and advice is to start the process early.
The Autistic Barbie: Representation, Responsibility, and the Problem of “One Size Fits All”.
Mattel’s 2025 release of an autistic Barbie doll has been widely celebrated as a milestone for inclusion. A global brand, a mainstream toy, and a condition that has long lived somewhere between stigma, misunderstanding, and silence. On the surface, it feels like progress. But as with most things involving autism and neurodivergence, the reality is more complicated.
I didn’t have a Barbie growing up in the 70s. I didn’t identify with her, and frankly, she felt too American. Instead, I had Sindy: rounder-faced, British, and at one point famously accompanied by a very British horse and riding gear. Sindy felt closer to real life. Barbie, on the other hand, was pink, polished, and eventually ubiquitous.
Mattel’s new release is identified as autistic largely through accessories: ear defenders, sensory tools, predictable routines. That raises an immediate question: does autism live in the person, or in the supports around them?
Neurodiversity on Reality TV
Will recent appearances on reality TV help to change public perception of neurodivergence?