Dr. Ben Mitchell
@drlibraryben.bsky.social
(he/they) Scholar. Geek. Nova Scotian. 🌍 Libraries (#GLAM), medical humanities, history/public history, neurodiversity and disability studies. 🌍 Geekier at: @willow0wisp.bsky.social
Pinned
Dr. Ben Mitchell
libraryben.trubox.ca
Lots of new follows and following after being on those lists. Folks who are interested can see some of my work and video recording of recent talks I've given on my website: libraryben.trubox.ca
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Stanford Neurodiversity Summit is a bright spot amid a sea of darkness, including its Human Rights panel moderated by @shannonrosa.bsky.social of @thinkingautism.com: Supporting the Communication of Nonspeakers with Dyspraxia; Rights-Based Parenting of/Supporting People with Complex Support Needs...
Very excited about the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit, which starts tomorrow. I'm especially amped to be moderating two panels on neurodivergent people with intensive support needs, & another on supporting nonspeakers (-SR). You can still sign up! Virtual tix are $25:
web.cvent.com/event/002dd4...
web.cvent.com/event/002dd4...
Personal Information - Stanford Neurodiversity Summit 2026
We are holding our sixth annual Stanford Neurodiversity Summit from September 19-21, 2026. The theme of this year's summit is “Building Strengths through Neurodivers
web.cvent.com
September 18, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Stanford Neurodiversity Summit is a bright spot amid a sea of darkness, including its Human Rights panel moderated by @shannonrosa.bsky.social of @thinkingautism.com: Supporting the Communication of Nonspeakers with Dyspraxia; Rights-Based Parenting of/Supporting People with Complex Support Needs...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
I miss him so much. Speaking at his memorial was the hardest public speaking event I've done. It also came just days before Trump announced RFK Jr. would become HHS Secretary, which would have sent Steve into a rage. I miss him so much and feel so lost without him.
We lost Steve Silberman on this day, 2 years ago. His death hit our entire community hard, because Steve showed autistic people as fully formed humans with rights and delights and happiness and love, with people who loved them, and whom they loved right back.
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/01/abou...
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/01/abou...
About That Mensch, Steve Silberman, and How Much We Miss Him — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM
Steve Silberman was such a well of bottomless compassion. I still can't believe he's gone. And I'm so sorry.
tinyurl.com
September 18, 2026 at 4:10 PM
I miss him so much. Speaking at his memorial was the hardest public speaking event I've done. It also came just days before Trump announced RFK Jr. would become HHS Secretary, which would have sent Steve into a rage. I miss him so much and feel so lost without him.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
170 - Carnegie, Gramsci, and Libraries feat. Dan Greene
We’re joined by @dmgreene.bsky.social again to talk about Carnegie libraries, which expanded into a larger discussion of consensus, hegemony, and the future of philanthropy/public funding. We also introduce Maoist Dusty Rhodes.
We’re joined by @dmgreene.bsky.social again to talk about Carnegie libraries, which expanded into a larger discussion of consensus, hegemony, and the future of philanthropy/public funding. We also introduce Maoist Dusty Rhodes.
170 - Carnegie, Gramsci, and Libraries feat. Dan Greene | librarypunk
We’re joined by Dan again to talk about Carnegie libraries, which expanded into a larger discussion of consensus, hegemony, and the future of philanthropy/public funding. We also introduce Maoist Dust...
www.librarypunk.gay
September 18, 2026 at 12:45 PM
170 - Carnegie, Gramsci, and Libraries feat. Dan Greene
We’re joined by @dmgreene.bsky.social again to talk about Carnegie libraries, which expanded into a larger discussion of consensus, hegemony, and the future of philanthropy/public funding. We also introduce Maoist Dusty Rhodes.
We’re joined by @dmgreene.bsky.social again to talk about Carnegie libraries, which expanded into a larger discussion of consensus, hegemony, and the future of philanthropy/public funding. We also introduce Maoist Dusty Rhodes.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
As I have reviewed, "profound autism" & functioning labels fail to get autistic ppl needed support: www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13... Autistic ppl express little support for either of them: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.... and link.springer.com/article/10.1...
And now ASAN has a toolkit on the topic:
And now ASAN has a toolkit on the topic:
September 17, 2026 at 8:04 PM
As I have reviewed, "profound autism" & functioning labels fail to get autistic ppl needed support: www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13... Autistic ppl express little support for either of them: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.... and link.springer.com/article/10.1...
And now ASAN has a toolkit on the topic:
And now ASAN has a toolkit on the topic:
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
New issue of the JEMH is out! It opens with Guillermo Wilde and Fabián R. Vega on "Decentering European Written Culture" in Jesuit-Guaraní missions in Paraguay #EarlyModern #historians @earlymodhistory.bsky.social
Our August issue, #30.4, is now available online! It opens with an article by Guillermo Wilde and Fabián R. Vega, "Decentering European Written Culture: Indigenous Appropriations of Printing in the Southern Borderlands of the Iberian Empires." brill.com/view/journal...
Decentering European Written Culture: Indigenous Appropriations of Printing in the Southern Borderlands of the Iberian Empires
Abstract This article explores the production of written culture in a remote region of Iberian colonial domains: the Jesuit-Guaraní missions in Paraguay in the eighteenth century. Through an examinati...
brill.com
September 8, 2026 at 4:42 PM
New issue of the JEMH is out! It opens with Guillermo Wilde and Fabián R. Vega on "Decentering European Written Culture" in Jesuit-Guaraní missions in Paraguay #EarlyModern #historians @earlymodhistory.bsky.social
Have often been tempted to call it a "capitalist behavioural technology" www.routledge.com/CBT-The-Cogn...
CBT: The Cognitive Behavioural Tsunami: Managerialism, Politics and the Corruptions of Science
Is CBT all it claims to be? The Cognitive Behavioural Tsunami: Managerialism, Politics, and the Corruptions of Science provides a powerful critique of CBT’s understanding of human suffering, as well a...
www.routledge.com
September 17, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Have often been tempted to call it a "capitalist behavioural technology" www.routledge.com/CBT-The-Cogn...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
“People assume, not unreasonably, that acknowledging fraud or errors in science is what leads to lack of trust. But I would submit that it’s the failure to acknowledge those things."
An interview with our Ivan Oransky that features a reference to Bruce Springsteen.
An interview with our Ivan Oransky that features a reference to Bruce Springsteen.
Nothing but the Truth: Keeping Science in Scientific Research | Published in PATIENT SAFETY
By Ivan Oransky, Caitlyn Allen. Falsifying data, fabricating references, peer-reviewing your own manuscript. There’s no shortage of ways that someone can damage the integrity of scientific research.
patientsafetyj.com
September 16, 2026 at 10:19 PM
“People assume, not unreasonably, that acknowledging fraud or errors in science is what leads to lack of trust. But I would submit that it’s the failure to acknowledge those things."
An interview with our Ivan Oransky that features a reference to Bruce Springsteen.
An interview with our Ivan Oransky that features a reference to Bruce Springsteen.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
A lawsuit has been filed against Padlet, alleging they share student data in real time to 160+ third parties (including data brokers, Meta, and Google).
Padlet is heavily used in K-12 as well as higher education with students who have no choice.
Read the complaint: drive.google.com/file/d/1OGPe...
Padlet is heavily used in K-12 as well as higher education with students who have no choice.
Read the complaint: drive.google.com/file/d/1OGPe...
Padlet Lawsuit.pdf
drive.google.com
September 16, 2026 at 8:41 PM
A lawsuit has been filed against Padlet, alleging they share student data in real time to 160+ third parties (including data brokers, Meta, and Google).
Padlet is heavily used in K-12 as well as higher education with students who have no choice.
Read the complaint: drive.google.com/file/d/1OGPe...
Padlet is heavily used in K-12 as well as higher education with students who have no choice.
Read the complaint: drive.google.com/file/d/1OGPe...
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
I’m thrilled that my book- Digital Literary Redlining- has received the 2026 Ángel David Nieves Book award for best monograph from the American Studies Association Digital Humanities Caucus! Thanks to the series editors and all at Stanford UP. I believe this is the 3rd book award in the series!
September 14, 2026 at 8:17 PM
I’m thrilled that my book- Digital Literary Redlining- has received the 2026 Ángel David Nieves Book award for best monograph from the American Studies Association Digital Humanities Caucus! Thanks to the series editors and all at Stanford UP. I believe this is the 3rd book award in the series!
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Tensions between the American Diabetes Association and several editors of its flagship journal — who have boycotted the group over its handling of a protest at the association’s June conference — have again boiled over, this time on the website of the journal.
Diabetes association turmoil roils journal as group tries to thwart boycott
A banner message on the Diabetes Care website tells visitors they “continue to actively accept and appropriately review all new and previously submitted manuscripts,” which contradicts …
retractionwatch.com
September 14, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Tensions between the American Diabetes Association and several editors of its flagship journal — who have boycotted the group over its handling of a protest at the association’s June conference — have again boiled over, this time on the website of the journal.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
thinking about this tweet again, and the fact that it's got such a hold on me that I genuinely think about it whenever I write a feature because I don't want to do "the hot dog thing"
September 14, 2026 at 6:53 PM
thinking about this tweet again, and the fact that it's got such a hold on me that I genuinely think about it whenever I write a feature because I don't want to do "the hot dog thing"
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Happy Pub Date to DESERTED: Life Without Local News in Rural America by Nick Mathews!
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
#Business #Communications #Journalism #RuralStudies
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
#Business #Communications #Journalism #RuralStudies
September 15, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Happy Pub Date to DESERTED: Life Without Local News in Rural America by Nick Mathews!
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
#Business #Communications #Journalism #RuralStudies
www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...
#Business #Communications #Journalism #RuralStudies
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
It is deeply upsetting to me how many social workers and doctors working with poor disabled folks apparently have never heard of the Canada Disability Benefit.
www.canada.ca/en/services/...
*Please* help your clients and patients access this funding, especially if you work in an institution!
www.canada.ca/en/services/...
*Please* help your clients and patients access this funding, especially if you work in an institution!
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) - Canada.ca
The Canada Disability Benefit is a monthly payment for working-age persons with disabilities who have low income
www.canada.ca
September 15, 2026 at 4:40 AM
It is deeply upsetting to me how many social workers and doctors working with poor disabled folks apparently have never heard of the Canada Disability Benefit.
www.canada.ca/en/services/...
*Please* help your clients and patients access this funding, especially if you work in an institution!
www.canada.ca/en/services/...
*Please* help your clients and patients access this funding, especially if you work in an institution!
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
why would you even care if you dog was autistic.
like, even in a world where dogtism is real why would it matter if your dog had it. he’s literally just here to vibe.
like, even in a world where dogtism is real why would it matter if your dog had it. he’s literally just here to vibe.
May I remind everyone that there is currently NO cure for rabies.
May I also remind everyone there is absolutely NO scientific proof connecting ANY vaccine that we produce today with autism.
This is true regarding vaccination in both humans AND in dogs.
Vaccinate your pets please.
May I also remind everyone there is absolutely NO scientific proof connecting ANY vaccine that we produce today with autism.
This is true regarding vaccination in both humans AND in dogs.
Vaccinate your pets please.
September 14, 2026 at 4:31 PM
why would you even care if you dog was autistic.
like, even in a world where dogtism is real why would it matter if your dog had it. he’s literally just here to vibe.
like, even in a world where dogtism is real why would it matter if your dog had it. he’s literally just here to vibe.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
EXCLUSIVE: Humans are reading ChatGPT users’ prompts to improve OpenAI’s models, and those chats can include sensitive, personal information, according to leaked internal documents and real prompts seen by 404 Media.
Inside ‘Project Lily’: The Humans Reading Your ChatGPT Chats
Humans are reading ChatGPT users’ prompts to improve OpenAI’s models, and those chats can include sensitive, personal information, according to leaked internal documents and real prompts seen by 404 M...
www.404media.co
September 14, 2026 at 2:26 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Humans are reading ChatGPT users’ prompts to improve OpenAI’s models, and those chats can include sensitive, personal information, according to leaked internal documents and real prompts seen by 404 Media.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
A statistic that haunts me because it is 100% true and shocking and useless in advocacy precisely because it is true and shocking:
Policy that enables a 1-car lifestyle rather than 2 is equivalent to giving a family a $25,000 annual pay raise.
Policy that enables a 1-car lifestyle rather than 2 is equivalent to giving a family a $25,000 annual pay raise.
This story buries the lede, but if you pull out a calculator and do the math, AAA found that the average American spends $15,031 a year for a single car!
www.cnbc.com/2026/09/14/c...
www.cnbc.com/2026/09/14/c...
Car ownership costs an average of $5,851 a year on top of auto loan payments, analysis finds
The cost of insurance, gas, and maintenance or repairs can add thousands of dollars a year to the price of owning a car.
www.cnbc.com
September 14, 2026 at 7:26 PM
A statistic that haunts me because it is 100% true and shocking and useless in advocacy precisely because it is true and shocking:
Policy that enables a 1-car lifestyle rather than 2 is equivalent to giving a family a $25,000 annual pay raise.
Policy that enables a 1-car lifestyle rather than 2 is equivalent to giving a family a $25,000 annual pay raise.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
A psychology journal has retracted a paper on how using generative AI can affect confidence in work tasks after its sole author refused to share data with the editors.
CEO of AI company loses paper on cognitive impact of generative AI
A psychology journal has retracted a paper on how using generative AI can affect confidence in work tasks after its sole author refused to share data with the editors. The April paper, publis…
retractionwatch.com
September 14, 2026 at 9:40 PM
A psychology journal has retracted a paper on how using generative AI can affect confidence in work tasks after its sole author refused to share data with the editors.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Our AGM is happening this week, everyone welcome:
Our AGM where will will present our annual report: zenodo.org/records/2211... is open to all on the 16th September.
Please register here:
lancaster-uk.libcal.com/calendar/lib...
Please register here:
lancaster-uk.libcal.com/calendar/lib...
NLISN Annual General Meeting (AGM)
If you're neurodivergent and work in a library or information role, then you are welcome at NLISN's Annual General Meeting. The Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network...
lancaster-uk.libcal.com
September 14, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Our AGM is happening this week, everyone welcome:
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Your periodic reminder that “diets to treat autism” are BS. Autism is not a disease. Also many autistic kids (& adults) have GI issues, food sensory issues, &/or dietary allergies. Sometimes specific diets help THOSE ISSUES, and when autistic people feel better, they ACT like they feel better. 1/2
September 13, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Your periodic reminder that “diets to treat autism” are BS. Autism is not a disease. Also many autistic kids (& adults) have GI issues, food sensory issues, &/or dietary allergies. Sometimes specific diets help THOSE ISSUES, and when autistic people feel better, they ACT like they feel better. 1/2
It troubles me a bit that I can't get the Telus Health people to simply tell me which AI transcription service they use.
September 14, 2026 at 8:25 PM
It troubles me a bit that I can't get the Telus Health people to simply tell me which AI transcription service they use.
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Autistic people and people with high autistic traits are greatly overrepresented among those who died by suicide, and it is an academic question (for those people at least) whether those who were not diagnosed met strict criteria for an autism diagnosis: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35166201/ 4/
Autism and autistic traits in those who died by suicide in England - PubMed
Elevated autistic traits are significantly over-represented in those who die by suicide.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 14, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Autistic people and people with high autistic traits are greatly overrepresented among those who died by suicide, and it is an academic question (for those people at least) whether those who were not diagnosed met strict criteria for an autism diagnosis: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35166201/ 4/
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Unqualified "superpower" rhetoric is generally co-option by corporations the like, rather than the neurodiversity movement establishment (see @drrobertchapman.bsky.social's essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social: www.bostonreview.net/forum/the-fu...) 5/
The Future of Neurodiversity
The movement has made important progress, but focusing on rights and representation leaves too many behind.
www.bostonreview.net
September 14, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Unqualified "superpower" rhetoric is generally co-option by corporations the like, rather than the neurodiversity movement establishment (see @drrobertchapman.bsky.social's essay for @bostonreview.bsky.social: www.bostonreview.net/forum/the-fu...) 5/
Reposted by Dr. Ben Mitchell
Sharing this:
The Little Book of #Neurodiverse Hope is a knowledge‑sharing project that aims to capture how #neurodiverse #students navigate #university life & support one another. There's a survey to go along side it if you have a moment? More here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/mmu/little...
The Little Book of #Neurodiverse Hope is a knowledge‑sharing project that aims to capture how #neurodiverse #students navigate #university life & support one another. There's a survey to go along side it if you have a moment? More here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/mmu/little...
Little Book of Neurodiverse Hope - Online Surveys | Online surveys
Online surveys is a powerful, easy to use tool for creating online surveys. Run by Jisc, Online surveys is used by over 300 different organisations in the UK...
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk
September 14, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Sharing this:
The Little Book of #Neurodiverse Hope is a knowledge‑sharing project that aims to capture how #neurodiverse #students navigate #university life & support one another. There's a survey to go along side it if you have a moment? More here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/mmu/little...
The Little Book of #Neurodiverse Hope is a knowledge‑sharing project that aims to capture how #neurodiverse #students navigate #university life & support one another. There's a survey to go along side it if you have a moment? More here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/mmu/little...