Monique Botha
@drmbothapsych.bsky.social
Autistic and ADHD researcher focusing on minority stress, meta-science, and dehumanization of neurodivergent people in science and research. Big believer in #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
Reposted by Monique Botha
The level of unprofessionalism among these members is astounding. "Do you know who I am?" is not an adequate answer to concerns that federal members didn't actually have the chance to read public comments.
This deprives the community of a voice on a document concerning MILLIONS in research funds
This deprives the community of a voice on a document concerning MILLIONS in research funds
Honey Rinicella - jumping in to tell Scott Robertson that he should think about "who you're speaking to" because she knows many commenters personally. Astounding level of personal attacks here - and not responding to the actual concern
August 27, 2026 at 8:41 PM
The level of unprofessionalism among these members is astounding. "Do you know who I am?" is not an adequate answer to concerns that federal members didn't actually have the chance to read public comments.
This deprives the community of a voice on a document concerning MILLIONS in research funds
This deprives the community of a voice on a document concerning MILLIONS in research funds
Reposted by Monique Botha
I don’t know how I missed the fact that OpenAI was a Tier 1 sponsor for the American Psychological Association conference last week, but here we are
Other sponsors include venture capital “therapy” & the Department of Justice
convention.apa.org
Are we cooked? I feel cooked.
Other sponsors include venture capital “therapy” & the Department of Justice
convention.apa.org
Are we cooked? I feel cooked.
August 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM
I don’t know how I missed the fact that OpenAI was a Tier 1 sponsor for the American Psychological Association conference last week, but here we are
Other sponsors include venture capital “therapy” & the Department of Justice
convention.apa.org
Are we cooked? I feel cooked.
Other sponsors include venture capital “therapy” & the Department of Justice
convention.apa.org
Are we cooked? I feel cooked.
Reposted by Monique Botha
Gosh it is a day for some epic research!
Sivathasan, S., Moravvej, M., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Bottema-Beutel, K. (2026). Aligning Counseling Psychology with Neurodiversity Scholarship: A Call to Action. The Counseling Psychologist, 54(5), 809-834.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Sivathasan, S., Moravvej, M., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Bottema-Beutel, K. (2026). Aligning Counseling Psychology with Neurodiversity Scholarship: A Call to Action. The Counseling Psychologist, 54(5), 809-834.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Aligning Counseling Psychology with Neurodiversity Scholarship: A Call to Action - Shalini Sivathasan, Maryam Moravvej, Monique Botha, Kristen Bottema-Beutel, 2026
Neurodivergent people are a notably underserved population in counseling psychology, which is an urgent concern given that they experience elevated rates of men...
journals.sagepub.com
August 4, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Gosh it is a day for some epic research!
Sivathasan, S., Moravvej, M., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Bottema-Beutel, K. (2026). Aligning Counseling Psychology with Neurodiversity Scholarship: A Call to Action. The Counseling Psychologist, 54(5), 809-834.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Sivathasan, S., Moravvej, M., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Bottema-Beutel, K. (2026). Aligning Counseling Psychology with Neurodiversity Scholarship: A Call to Action. The Counseling Psychologist, 54(5), 809-834.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Monique Botha
"One of the most profound things we can do is provide autistic people space to just be, so they can follow their internal compass, and live well."
From @drmbothapsych.bsky.social's #INSAR2026 talk on autistic people steering autism research. (We are finalizing our INSAR 2026 coverage, stay tuned!)
From @drmbothapsych.bsky.social's #INSAR2026 talk on autistic people steering autism research. (We are finalizing our INSAR 2026 coverage, stay tuned!)
May 10, 2026 at 2:42 AM
"One of the most profound things we can do is provide autistic people space to just be, so they can follow their internal compass, and live well."
From @drmbothapsych.bsky.social's #INSAR2026 talk on autistic people steering autism research. (We are finalizing our INSAR 2026 coverage, stay tuned!)
From @drmbothapsych.bsky.social's #INSAR2026 talk on autistic people steering autism research. (We are finalizing our INSAR 2026 coverage, stay tuned!)
Reposted by Monique Botha
‘Let Us Be the Art, Not Just the Entertainment’:
A Participatory Zine-Making Study Engaging Autistic Women and Non-Binary People in Discussing Media Representations of Autism.
Dantas, S., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social , Grainger, C., Rafetseder, E., & Jasper, C. (2026).
doi.org/10.3390/soc1...
A Participatory Zine-Making Study Engaging Autistic Women and Non-Binary People in Discussing Media Representations of Autism.
Dantas, S., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social , Grainger, C., Rafetseder, E., & Jasper, C. (2026).
doi.org/10.3390/soc1...
doi.org
May 2, 2026 at 9:05 PM
‘Let Us Be the Art, Not Just the Entertainment’:
A Participatory Zine-Making Study Engaging Autistic Women and Non-Binary People in Discussing Media Representations of Autism.
Dantas, S., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social , Grainger, C., Rafetseder, E., & Jasper, C. (2026).
doi.org/10.3390/soc1...
A Participatory Zine-Making Study Engaging Autistic Women and Non-Binary People in Discussing Media Representations of Autism.
Dantas, S., @drmbothapsych.bsky.social , Grainger, C., Rafetseder, E., & Jasper, C. (2026).
doi.org/10.3390/soc1...
Reposted by Monique Botha
STARTS believes that expertise stemming from lived experience matters, especially in mental health and wellbeing.
The problem with much wellbeing research is that neurotypical expectations are prioritized, when in fact autistic goals are not necessarily the same.
#INSAR2026
The problem with much wellbeing research is that neurotypical expectations are prioritized, when in fact autistic goals are not necessarily the same.
#INSAR2026
April 23, 2026 at 1:49 PM
STARTS believes that expertise stemming from lived experience matters, especially in mental health and wellbeing.
The problem with much wellbeing research is that neurotypical expectations are prioritized, when in fact autistic goals are not necessarily the same.
#INSAR2026
The problem with much wellbeing research is that neurotypical expectations are prioritized, when in fact autistic goals are not necessarily the same.
#INSAR2026
Reposted by Monique Botha
Though important to note that @drmbothapsych.bsky.social says a huge problem is that autistic people are never allowed to just be. And one of the most profound things we can do is provide autistic people space to just be, so they can follow their internal compass, and live well.
#INSAR2026
#INSAR2026
April 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Though important to note that @drmbothapsych.bsky.social says a huge problem is that autistic people are never allowed to just be. And one of the most profound things we can do is provide autistic people space to just be, so they can follow their internal compass, and live well.
#INSAR2026
#INSAR2026
Reposted by Monique Botha
Sincere thanks to @drmbothapsych.bsky.social, @draimeegrant.bsky.social, & @dramypearson.bsky.social for this reminder about listening with care and respect, when choosing which words to describe neurodivergent (not just autistic!) people.
“We recommend listening to neurodivergent people to find out about their preferences and using the words that they prefer, instead of solely being led by traditions which have developed without the input of the communities we are referring to.”
theconversation.com/what-neurodi... #neurodiversity
theconversation.com/what-neurodi... #neurodiversity
What neurodivergent people really think about the words used to describe them
Research reveals a clear preference for how neurodivergent adults want to be described, though not everyone agrees.
theconversation.com
April 16, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Sincere thanks to @drmbothapsych.bsky.social, @draimeegrant.bsky.social, & @dramypearson.bsky.social for this reminder about listening with care and respect, when choosing which words to describe neurodivergent (not just autistic!) people.
I am so so excited to do a keynote and speak amongst so many people doing incredible affirmative work
We are delighted to be a keynote speaker sponsor for NATCA & LOAPAC -Neurodiversity Affirming Psychologists Australia EXPO '26
We are deeply aligned with LOAPAC's values and work.
Check out the upcoming conference and ticket info:
www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org
We are deeply aligned with LOAPAC's values and work.
Check out the upcoming conference and ticket info:
www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org
April 9, 2026 at 6:14 PM
I am so so excited to do a keynote and speak amongst so many people doing incredible affirmative work
Reposted by Monique Botha
We are delighted to be a keynote speaker sponsor for NATCA & LOAPAC -Neurodiversity Affirming Psychologists Australia EXPO '26
We are deeply aligned with LOAPAC's values and work.
Check out the upcoming conference and ticket info:
www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org
We are deeply aligned with LOAPAC's values and work.
Check out the upcoming conference and ticket info:
www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org
April 9, 2026 at 9:56 AM
We are delighted to be a keynote speaker sponsor for NATCA & LOAPAC -Neurodiversity Affirming Psychologists Australia EXPO '26
We are deeply aligned with LOAPAC's values and work.
Check out the upcoming conference and ticket info:
www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org
We are deeply aligned with LOAPAC's values and work.
Check out the upcoming conference and ticket info:
www.ndaffirmingtherapyaus.org
Reposted by Monique Botha
Tonight I've read @drmbothapsych.bsky.social's piece, "Academic, Activist, or Advocate? Angry, Entangled, and Emerging: A Critical Reflection on Autism Knowledge Production," and I am on fire for this piece. 💥🎯🔥 #HigherEd please read it! #ActuallyAutistic www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
Frontiers | Academic, Activist, or Advocate? Angry, Entangled, and Emerging: A Critical Reflection on Autism Knowledge Production
There has been a focus on autistic-led and participatory research in autism research, but minimal discussion about whether the field is hospitable to autisti...
www.frontiersin.org
March 30, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Tonight I've read @drmbothapsych.bsky.social's piece, "Academic, Activist, or Advocate? Angry, Entangled, and Emerging: A Critical Reflection on Autism Knowledge Production," and I am on fire for this piece. 💥🎯🔥 #HigherEd please read it! #ActuallyAutistic www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
Reposted by Monique Botha
My friend is currently recruiting for her PhD - if you are a parent / guardian / caregiver of an autistic young person (aged 8-18) and have views on their screen use, please consider taking part in this short survey.
#PhDSky #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky #Parenting #AutisticChild #ScreenUse #Autism
#PhDSky #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky #Parenting #AutisticChild #ScreenUse #Autism
March 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM
My friend is currently recruiting for her PhD - if you are a parent / guardian / caregiver of an autistic young person (aged 8-18) and have views on their screen use, please consider taking part in this short survey.
#PhDSky #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky #Parenting #AutisticChild #ScreenUse #Autism
#PhDSky #PsychSciSky #AcademicSky #Parenting #AutisticChild #ScreenUse #Autism
It was great to go talk about my Leverhulme fellowship work at University of Leeds! What a lovely and keen group of people 😄
Wonderful to welcome @drmbothapsych.bsky.social to University of Leeds school of Psychology today, to hear about their important work looking at the language we use when talking about autism and autistic people in research, and how that can dehumanise people.
Monique Botha (@drmbothapsych.bsky.social)
Autistic and ADHD researcher focusing on minority stress, meta-science, and dehumanization of neurodivergent people in science and research. Big believer in #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
drmbothapsych.bsky.social
March 5, 2026 at 12:13 PM
It was great to go talk about my Leverhulme fellowship work at University of Leeds! What a lovely and keen group of people 😄
Participants wanted! 👥
Take part in an online survey on minority stress & neurodiversity (20–40 mins), inc. focus on burden from administrative systems!
Open to neurotypical & neurodivergent adults (18+), English proficient, no location limits 🌍
🔗 durhamuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Take part in an online survey on minority stress & neurodiversity (20–40 mins), inc. focus on burden from administrative systems!
Open to neurotypical & neurodivergent adults (18+), English proficient, no location limits 🌍
🔗 durhamuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
February 6, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Participants wanted! 👥
Take part in an online survey on minority stress & neurodiversity (20–40 mins), inc. focus on burden from administrative systems!
Open to neurotypical & neurodivergent adults (18+), English proficient, no location limits 🌍
🔗 durhamuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Take part in an online survey on minority stress & neurodiversity (20–40 mins), inc. focus on burden from administrative systems!
Open to neurotypical & neurodivergent adults (18+), English proficient, no location limits 🌍
🔗 durhamuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Sometimes you learn about the people behind "parental alienation" or those who enact it's politics (of misogyny) and it's hard to feel anything other than disgust for them and the legacies they leave behind. Trish Barry Relph is one of those contemptuous figures
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
I was warned my children would be ripped in half when we divorced. But I had no idea just how brutal custody cases can be
My experience of court was eye-opening. And when I sat in on other cases, I realised how often mothers are vilified
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Sometimes you learn about the people behind "parental alienation" or those who enact it's politics (of misogyny) and it's hard to feel anything other than disgust for them and the legacies they leave behind. Trish Barry Relph is one of those contemptuous figures
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by Monique Botha
Yes, JD. Let’s ask them if they think a stay at home mom, avowed Christian, and widow of a veteran deserved to be shot in the face and left to bleed out in her own car after dropping her 6-year-old off at school, for the crime of looking out for her neighbors. Let’s ask everyone running for office.
January 8, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Yes, JD. Let’s ask them if they think a stay at home mom, avowed Christian, and widow of a veteran deserved to be shot in the face and left to bleed out in her own car after dropping her 6-year-old off at school, for the crime of looking out for her neighbors. Let’s ask everyone running for office.
Reposted by Monique Botha
Even by my low expectations for Kemi Badenoch ‘violence against women and girls is something done by immigrants and nobody else’ has shocked me.
Dog-whistle and factually incorrect. Ladies, raise your hand if you were sexually assaulted by a boy at school? I’d wager this or a family member is most women’s first experience of sexual violence
December 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Even by my low expectations for Kemi Badenoch ‘violence against women and girls is something done by immigrants and nobody else’ has shocked me.
Reposted by Monique Botha
Rethinking power in #AutismResearch: Intersectional, Participatory, & Afrocentric Futures?
Book our January seminar with @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Dr Olivia Matshabane, facilitated by Dr Sohail Jannesari.
@kingsioppn.bsky.social @journalautism.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quahrc-sem...
Book our January seminar with @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Dr Olivia Matshabane, facilitated by Dr Sohail Jannesari.
@kingsioppn.bsky.social @journalautism.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quahrc-sem...
QUAHRC Seminar: Rethinking Power in Autism Research
Rethinking Power in Autism Research: Intersectional, Participatory, and Afrocentric Futures?
www.eventbrite.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Rethinking power in #AutismResearch: Intersectional, Participatory, & Afrocentric Futures?
Book our January seminar with @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Dr Olivia Matshabane, facilitated by Dr Sohail Jannesari.
@kingsioppn.bsky.social @journalautism.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quahrc-sem...
Book our January seminar with @drmbothapsych.bsky.social & Dr Olivia Matshabane, facilitated by Dr Sohail Jannesari.
@kingsioppn.bsky.social @journalautism.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quahrc-sem...
DON'T MISS this article by @tmburns08.bsky.social @drmbothapsych.bsky.social @durhampsych.bsky.social who found that autistic people had more distress and conflict around their identity and poorer mental health than non-autistic people.
FREE until November 25th
FREE until November 25th
In an online survey by @tmburns08.bsky.social @drmbothapsych.bsky.social @durhampsych.bsky.social, autistic people had more distress and conflict around their identity and poorer mental health than non-autistic people.
FREE until November 25th
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
FREE until November 25th
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...
November 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Monique Botha
Interesting, useful - and welcome confirmation that I'm not alone in hating misuse of 'neurodiverse' to describe an individual!
📣New research
Q: What do neurodivergent people think about words like "neurodiversity".
A: it's complicated; they use it, but it has limitations and could stigmatise.
Full paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
(1 of 2)
Q: What do neurodivergent people think about words like "neurodiversity".
A: it's complicated; they use it, but it has limitations and could stigmatise.
Full paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
(1 of 2)
‘A Lovely Safe Umbrella to Describe Yourself With’ or ‘Meaningless’: An Online Survey of UK-Based Neurodivergent Adults’ Views of Neurodiversity-Related Terminology - Aimee Grant, Jennifer Leigh, Moni...
Background: Neurodivergence refers to people with ways of behaving and thinking that diverge from the norm. Examples include Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperacti...
journals.sagepub.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Interesting, useful - and welcome confirmation that I'm not alone in hating misuse of 'neurodiverse' to describe an individual!
Reposted by Monique Botha
Absolutely insane.
Labour would have purged and smeared someone like Zohran Mamdani.
Wes Streeting's politics align far more closely with Andrew Cuomo.
The lessons from Mamdani are about how to defeat both the right - and the bankrupt "centre".
Labour would have purged and smeared someone like Zohran Mamdani.
Wes Streeting's politics align far more closely with Andrew Cuomo.
The lessons from Mamdani are about how to defeat both the right - and the bankrupt "centre".
November 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Absolutely insane.
Labour would have purged and smeared someone like Zohran Mamdani.
Wes Streeting's politics align far more closely with Andrew Cuomo.
The lessons from Mamdani are about how to defeat both the right - and the bankrupt "centre".
Labour would have purged and smeared someone like Zohran Mamdani.
Wes Streeting's politics align far more closely with Andrew Cuomo.
The lessons from Mamdani are about how to defeat both the right - and the bankrupt "centre".
Reposted by Monique Botha
Just found out my 12yo is getting recruiting ads for ICE on his school computer. “Help your country. $50k signing bonus.” Depraved and predatory
October 29, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Just found out my 12yo is getting recruiting ads for ICE on his school computer. “Help your country. $50k signing bonus.” Depraved and predatory
Reposted by Monique Botha
Yet another inside-out autism research headline! This time it's
"Increased prevalence of autism in the children of fibromyalgia patients," when fibromyalgia is a common co-occurring condition for autistic people, so those autistic kids' parents are likely autistic too.
DO BETTER AUTISM RESEARCHERS!
"Increased prevalence of autism in the children of fibromyalgia patients," when fibromyalgia is a common co-occurring condition for autistic people, so those autistic kids' parents are likely autistic too.
DO BETTER AUTISM RESEARCHERS!
October 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Yet another inside-out autism research headline! This time it's
"Increased prevalence of autism in the children of fibromyalgia patients," when fibromyalgia is a common co-occurring condition for autistic people, so those autistic kids' parents are likely autistic too.
DO BETTER AUTISM RESEARCHERS!
"Increased prevalence of autism in the children of fibromyalgia patients," when fibromyalgia is a common co-occurring condition for autistic people, so those autistic kids' parents are likely autistic too.
DO BETTER AUTISM RESEARCHERS!
I've seen once again, people who are largely uneducated, underinformed, and clearly not up to date on the science absolutely bitching about identify first language, disability pride, and community amongst autistic people and I find it more hilarious then terrifying because they are the equivalent of
a cartoon of homer simpson is holding a newspaper that says old man yells at cloud
Alt: a cartoon of homer simpson is holding a newspaper that says old man yells at cloud
media.tenor.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I've seen once again, people who are largely uneducated, underinformed, and clearly not up to date on the science absolutely bitching about identify first language, disability pride, and community amongst autistic people and I find it more hilarious then terrifying because they are the equivalent of