BwithA / Carol Stott Phd

Autism Diagnosis / ADOS/ADI Training and Clinical Assessment for Autism and Related Conditions...Expert Witness / ASD and Criminal Justice / Law

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@criminographer It’s unforgivable Emma. Totally unforgivable. For goodness sake - we have AI now that can teach some of these people about empathy. How hard is it to be kind? If Claude can manage it I’m damn sure some of these ‘system clone’ humans can

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

Cancel culture in the autism world. ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ has morphed into ‘Agree With Us or Get Off the Bus’

[Naomi Fisher @naomicfisher]

We started a podcast with the deliberate aim of talking to a range of voices. We had had enough of the polarisation and mudslinging of social media.

We went to significant effort to seek out different perspectives. Our criterion was not whether they agreed with us, but whether we thought they would have an interesting angle to add. We made it clear in the podcast that the views of the guests did not necessarily represent those of the hosts.

From the start we wanted this to be a space where people explained their ideas so that the listener could understand and make up their own mind. We wanted to model openness and tolerance of disagreement. We wanted to do something different to what happens on social media.

When we released our first episode, with Dame Uta Frith, we quickly discovered why these conversations are impossible. She said things which some people disagreed with, and as a result they blamed us for platforming her. There was little reasoned discussion of her ideas, and a lot of flinging of mud. People I had worked with and who I respected recorded videos about the harm I was causing and how disappointed they were. Others made huge assumptions about what we, as interviewers thought, including dismissing the suffering and experience of others and having a right wing agenda to cut benefits. Things that Uta had not said were attributed to her, and by association to us.

Immediately, our other podcast guests started to withdraw. People whose work I really respected and who had fascinating things to say backed away, scared perhaps that they too would be tainted by association. Their viewpoints were very different to Uta and that is exactly why we asked them. Just like when we interviewed Uta, we wanted to really hear and understand what they had to say. That won’t be possible now.

There’s something going on in the online autism world, and it’s not healthy. Many people are terrified to say what they think, for fear of the sort of thing that has happened to me this week. Useful and valid viewpoints are not being heard. Self-censuring is rife. Online shaming has been normalised. As a result, the growth of knowledge is stifled.

If you disagree with what Uta Frith said and you’d like to come on our podcast, please email me. We’d love to have you.
https://t.co/NCV214Mcz2

[Steven Pinker @sapinker]

None of us is infallible; none of us is omniscient. The only way, as a species, we’ve been able to make progress—we’ve been able to discover how the world works, what works in creating a functioning and fair society—is that people try out ideas; other people point out what’s wrong with them; we keep the ideas that seem to be working; we try not to repeat our mistakes; and we blunder our way toward knowledge and progress. If you disable that cycle by punishing people for the content of their speech, then you’re guaranteed to be in error, because the people doing the punishing—the people doing the censoring—are themselves not infallible.

@NZFreeSpeech

--Full interview: https://t.co/blyxGKiKeO

--Tickets to "An Evening with Steven Pinker" in Auckland, Monday, February 02, 2026 at 7PM: https://t.co/zyO9gPS9Aj

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

This reminds me of an extremely intelligent 9 yr old autistic boy I assessed using the WIAT-III. One of the ‘numeracy’ questions is ‘If you toss a coin 10 times how many times would you expect it to land on heads’. His rather brilliant answer was “Well I’d never ‘expect’ it to land on heads because each time there would be a 50-50 chance. Even if it landed 9 times on heads, then the 10th time would still be 50-50.” Then he thought for a second looking puzzled and said “But wait. I suppose if the first 9 landed on heads it might suggest the coin is weighted differently and that would change the probability. Hmmm. Well, anyway the test people will think the answer is 5 so just put that”.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@sbaroncohen @RichardDawkins @howtoacademy Is there a recording /podcast of this anywhere @sbaroncohen - I’d love to listen

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@iCanSpeaker @christa This is what journalism should be.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@BarristerSecret @BushidojetBushy Or Upper Trubunal in some circumstances? I’m no lawyer either so just wanted to check. It’s what I’d understood but might be wrong.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

Yes - an interesting and timely point in my opinion. Prior to DSM-5 the sub-classifications seemed to be based on rather arbitrary factors (such as age of onset <36m) or some ill-defined notion of ‘ability’ (e.g Asperger’s Syndrome vs Childhood Autism) I think the removal of these classifications made some sense at the time, but perhaps we are now ready for a more appropriate and better informed set of sub-classifications. My sense right now is that a lot of conflict (and some quite angry and confusing differences of opinion) stem from people talking about quite different things from each other, while using the term autism/ASD as though it’s just one entity.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

Might the nub of this case apply to an individual with ASD (and no intellectual disability) who generally has capacity to make a number of decisions (including consent to treatment) but then, in the moment, refuses treatment as a result of severe dysregulation and high levels of anxiety associated with hospital visits. (I fully acknowledge that any response doesn’t constitute legal advice)

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@CharleyBaker1 @BarristerSecret I loved it too. I listened on Audible and the way different people were voiced by each other was very clever. Superb

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@haveigotnews Shouldn’t that be ‘fewer’ students…😉

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

Full article: Understanding vulnerabilities and ‘pathways’ in the commission of sexual offences by autistic individuals: perspectives from UK-based practitioners https://t.co/VIixp1Gj4B

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

You say that in mentioning your own mental health and health struggles you are not seeking sympathy, and I’m sure also that by mentioning your successes you’re just seeking glory either. But both are important and should of course be talked about. You are one hell of a human being Niall. Just amazing. I’m so glad I came across you on Twitter/X.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

This looks like it will be good. ToM assumed! @sbaroncohen

[Steven Pinker @sapinker]

More on common knowledge and coordination:
https://t.co/HRJzMZDqrM

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@fromYorkshire1 @LozzaFox @Lozza It was meant as a joke. Deleted now. I totally agree with what he’s saying. Remember irony? I know LF does.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

In memory of David Kirby: Author of Evidence of Harm / New York Times Journalist / Friend

Two years ago we lost a rare treasure - In fact we lost something that the free-speaking world can’t do without. A journalist with intelligence, courage and integrity.

Some years ago, when the world turned its back on an emerging and alarming number of children who appeared to have suffered devastating effects of childhood vaccination, David put his head above the parapet and gave a voice to the affected children and their families. He took on the vitriolic abuse, the snide memes from largely uninformed skeptics. Those whose patients and children were in the majority - - just fine, nothing to see here - and who thought it was OK to treat those who didn’t make it as collateral damage; dispensable casualties in a fight for the protection of the many. He gave people ‘Evidence of Harm’ a glimpse of what was really happening inside those ivory towers and pharmaceutical labs. David was what investigative journalism should always be about.

In the words of TD Allman (quoted by John Pilger in ‘Tell Me No Lies’)

“Genuinely objective journalism is journalism that not only gets the facts right, it gets the meaning of events right. It is compelling not only today but stands the test of time. It is validated not only by reliable sources, but by the unfolding of history. It is journalism that ten, twenty, fifty years after the fact still holds up a true and intelligent mirror to events.”

David was that kind of journalist - the kind we need now, for so many reasons. Go gently my friend. You were one of the best.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@Capacitylaw Another one for the bookshelves. Thank you Alex

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@AdamWagner1 Congratulations. Well deserved

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@rajamukherjee10 @ClareAllely @FasdSalford Excellent. Is it possible to get copies or can you direct me to Tania’s work please.

[BwithA / Carol Stott Phd @BwithA]

@Capacitylaw This is great - thanks for the readable version