Next time you hear someone saying, “Autistic people lack empathy,” you might want to gently challenge them to read @annmemmott.bsky.social's article, and be prepared for some surprising discoveries. At TPGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/06/empa... #autism #DoubleEmpathyProblem #neurodiversity
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/06/empa... #autism #DoubleEmpathyProblem #neurodiversity
Empathy Tests For Autistic People: What Are We Measuring? — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM
What do people mean when they repeat the myth that “Autistic people lack empathy?" Which sort of empathy? What evidence is there?
thinkingautismguide.com
June 29, 2026 at 5:50 AM
Next time you hear someone saying, “Autistic people lack empathy,” you might want to gently challenge them to read @annmemmott.bsky.social's article, and be prepared for some surprising discoveries. At TPGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/06/empa... #autism #DoubleEmpathyProblem #neurodiversity
thinkingautismguide.com/2026/06/empa... #autism #DoubleEmpathyProblem #neurodiversity
Dann sag ich jetzt auch was:
Ich trage meine Bezeichnung zwar nicht wie eine Trophäe vor mir her wie die Dame, aber ich kenne beruflich und privat sicher um die 200 Autisten näher und entfernter.
Aber nicht einer war dabei, der pauschal „nicht zu Empathie fähig war“. #DoubleEmpathyProblem ☝🏼
Ich trage meine Bezeichnung zwar nicht wie eine Trophäe vor mir her wie die Dame, aber ich kenne beruflich und privat sicher um die 200 Autisten näher und entfernter.
Aber nicht einer war dabei, der pauschal „nicht zu Empathie fähig war“. #DoubleEmpathyProblem ☝🏼
December 9, 2024 at 5:12 PM
Dann sag ich jetzt auch was:
Ich trage meine Bezeichnung zwar nicht wie eine Trophäe vor mir her wie die Dame, aber ich kenne beruflich und privat sicher um die 200 Autisten näher und entfernter.
Aber nicht einer war dabei, der pauschal „nicht zu Empathie fähig war“. #DoubleEmpathyProblem ☝🏼
Ich trage meine Bezeichnung zwar nicht wie eine Trophäe vor mir her wie die Dame, aber ich kenne beruflich und privat sicher um die 200 Autisten näher und entfernter.
Aber nicht einer war dabei, der pauschal „nicht zu Empathie fähig war“. #DoubleEmpathyProblem ☝🏼
Alice would probably find it easier to concentrate if lessons were #neuro-affirming.
It would be great to see #neurodivergent -authored theory & #EdRes referenced in these discussions.
#neurodiversity
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
It would be great to see #neurodivergent -authored theory & #EdRes referenced in these discussions.
#neurodiversity
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
January 18, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Alice would probably find it easier to concentrate if lessons were #neuro-affirming.
It would be great to see #neurodivergent -authored theory & #EdRes referenced in these discussions.
#neurodiversity
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
It would be great to see #neurodivergent -authored theory & #EdRes referenced in these discussions.
#neurodiversity
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
This letter to the British Journal of Psychiatry tells us everything we need to know about current thinking in #autism research. Concise, accessible & powerful. Read it if you think autism = social deficits! #DoubleEmpathyProblem www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Autism diagnosis and the double empathy problem | The British Journal of Psychiatry | Cambridge Core
Autism diagnosis and the double empathy problem
www.cambridge.org
November 30, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This letter to the British Journal of Psychiatry tells us everything we need to know about current thinking in #autism research. Concise, accessible & powerful. Read it if you think autism = social deficits! #DoubleEmpathyProblem www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
You will know who your people are.
They will feel like safety.
They will feel like sunlight.
#ActuallyAutistic #DoubleEmpathyProblem #Neurodivergent
They will feel like safety.
They will feel like sunlight.
#ActuallyAutistic #DoubleEmpathyProblem #Neurodivergent
November 25, 2024 at 11:41 AM
You will know who your people are.
They will feel like safety.
They will feel like sunlight.
#ActuallyAutistic #DoubleEmpathyProblem #Neurodivergent
They will feel like safety.
They will feel like sunlight.
#ActuallyAutistic #DoubleEmpathyProblem #Neurodivergent
The context mattered most. Autistic participants reported the highest rapport when they knew their partner was also autistic, supporting the idea of a distinct autistic social style that thrives between autistic people. #DoubleEmpathyProblem
August 29, 2025 at 10:29 PM
The context mattered most. Autistic participants reported the highest rapport when they knew their partner was also autistic, supporting the idea of a distinct autistic social style that thrives between autistic people. #DoubleEmpathyProblem
It would be lovely to see #autistic and other #neurodivergent authored theory, research and teaching approaches referenced in the Steplab paper re SEND & inclusion.
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
#neurodiversity
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
#neurodiversity
September 6, 2025 at 7:20 PM
It would be lovely to see #autistic and other #neurodivergent authored theory, research and teaching approaches referenced in the Steplab paper re SEND & inclusion.
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
#neurodiversity
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
#neurodiversity
#NDGlossary: #DoubleEmpathyProblem - Explains communication difficulties between #neurodivergent and #neurotypical people arise from a two-sided lack of understanding ( #CrossNeurotype ), not a #neurodivergent deficit. #Communication
November 30, 2024 at 4:44 AM
#NDGlossary: #DoubleEmpathyProblem - Explains communication difficulties between #neurodivergent and #neurotypical people arise from a two-sided lack of understanding ( #CrossNeurotype ), not a #neurodivergent deficit. #Communication
For those autistics who struggle to connect and / or communicate empathy, the below post might be helpful.
#autistic #empathy #DoubleEmpathyProblem
#autistic #empathy #DoubleEmpathyProblem
a message to allies: "I do not understand your struggle but I support you in it" is a thousand times better than trying to say you get it.
nobody needs you to know what they're going through. they just need support as they go through it.
nobody needs you to know what they're going through. they just need support as they go through it.
The first time we attended family Thanksgiving after really coming out and starting transition, he gave a speech before the meal. He said he'd probably never understand where we were coming from, but that we would always have a place at his table.
November 28, 2024 at 7:05 AM
For those autistics who struggle to connect and / or communicate empathy, the below post might be helpful.
#autistic #empathy #DoubleEmpathyProblem
#autistic #empathy #DoubleEmpathyProblem
New podcast episode where I use philosophy of empathy to explore the double empathy problem, considering where it applies and how it relates to neurodiversity. This is a new recording of my presentation I gave at Tilburg last month #autism #philmed #doubleempathyproblem
Uploaded Philosophically Analysing the Double Empathy Problem
YouTube video by Philosophy of Psychiatric Diagnoses
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
New podcast episode where I use philosophy of empathy to explore the double empathy problem, considering where it applies and how it relates to neurodiversity. This is a new recording of my presentation I gave at Tilburg last month #autism #philmed #doubleempathyproblem
Outstanding work from Ian ✨ mapping what must surely be the nuts and bolts of #ableism in school behaviour policies. The #doubleempathyproblem is worryingly deep in exactly the settings where our #ND children should be valued and supported - not punished 😔
across 563 school behaviour policies, i found that notions of 'misbehaviour' coalesce with a whole constellation of linguistic features. of course, these linguistic features are not empirically connected to 'misbehaviour', but they are strongly ideologically connected.
March 7, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Outstanding work from Ian ✨ mapping what must surely be the nuts and bolts of #ableism in school behaviour policies. The #doubleempathyproblem is worryingly deep in exactly the settings where our #ND children should be valued and supported - not punished 😔
First thought that came to my head ?
Especially if #Autistic, #Neurodivergent and communicating with non Autistic , Neurotypical…
#DoubleEmpathyProblem by #DamuanMilton
Here : the research - kar.kent.ac.uk/62639/1/Doub...
Here - video with #Aucademy
www.youtube.com/live/uJSboFM...
Especially if #Autistic, #Neurodivergent and communicating with non Autistic , Neurotypical…
#DoubleEmpathyProblem by #DamuanMilton
Here : the research - kar.kent.ac.uk/62639/1/Doub...
Here - video with #Aucademy
www.youtube.com/live/uJSboFM...
January 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
First thought that came to my head ?
Especially if #Autistic, #Neurodivergent and communicating with non Autistic , Neurotypical…
#DoubleEmpathyProblem by #DamuanMilton
Here : the research - kar.kent.ac.uk/62639/1/Doub...
Here - video with #Aucademy
www.youtube.com/live/uJSboFM...
Especially if #Autistic, #Neurodivergent and communicating with non Autistic , Neurotypical…
#DoubleEmpathyProblem by #DamuanMilton
Here : the research - kar.kent.ac.uk/62639/1/Doub...
Here - video with #Aucademy
www.youtube.com/live/uJSboFM...
#NDGlossary: #DoubleEmpathyProblem - Communication breakdown that occurs between ND and NT people (cross-neurotype) due to differing communication styles and social expectations. It emphasizes that the issue isn't solely with the ND person, but a mutual lack of understanding.
November 20, 2024 at 4:26 PM
#NDGlossary: #DoubleEmpathyProblem - Communication breakdown that occurs between ND and NT people (cross-neurotype) due to differing communication styles and social expectations. It emphasizes that the issue isn't solely with the ND person, but a mutual lack of understanding.
🧩 Studies: all-autistic groups report higher rapport on enjoyment and friendliness than mixed groups. Key finding: autistic participants' rapport decreases as more non-autistic people join! #DoubleEmpathyProblem 3/10
May 3, 2025 at 10:41 PM
🧩 Studies: all-autistic groups report higher rapport on enjoyment and friendliness than mixed groups. Key finding: autistic participants' rapport decreases as more non-autistic people join! #DoubleEmpathyProblem 3/10
Ian’s critical interrogation of Ofsted’s preference for ‘standard English’ 🙄 is also super relevant to education for autistic students and the #doubleempathyproblem imv. How many additional barriers to communication style & validation does #Ofsted want to embed? 😬
am giving a public seminar at Oxford department of education on may 12 - all welcome, details here 💜
www.education.ox.ac.uk/event/the-wh...
www.education.ox.ac.uk/event/the-wh...
February 22, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Ian’s critical interrogation of Ofsted’s preference for ‘standard English’ 🙄 is also super relevant to education for autistic students and the #doubleempathyproblem imv. How many additional barriers to communication style & validation does #Ofsted want to embed? 😬
It would be lovely to see engagement with autistic-authored education theory, such as #monotropism and the #doubleempathyproblem, when education for autistic children is being discussed.
September 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
It would be lovely to see engagement with autistic-authored education theory, such as #monotropism and the #doubleempathyproblem, when education for autistic children is being discussed.
That’s why we also stress including autistic voices in research. Who better to define what a meaningful social interaction looks like than those who experience them? Let's build more inclusive and accurate science. #Autism #Neurodiversity #DoubleEmpathyProblem
September 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
That’s why we also stress including autistic voices in research. Who better to define what a meaningful social interaction looks like than those who experience them? Let's build more inclusive and accurate science. #Autism #Neurodiversity #DoubleEmpathyProblem
Great to see @beranews.bsky.social highlighting @iancushing.bsky.social’s powerful research findings ✨ 🙏on the “colonial logic” at work in Ofsted’s undervaluing of non-‘standard’ 😑 English and overvaluing of (neuro)normative ‘oracy’ 🙄 #SEND- and #doubleempathyproblem- relevant.
📝 NEW BLOG POST
Documenting and dismantling language ideologies in education
By Ian Cushing, Manchester Metropolitan University
@iancushing.bsky.social
Read here: bera.ac.uk/blog/documen...
Documenting and dismantling language ideologies in education
By Ian Cushing, Manchester Metropolitan University
@iancushing.bsky.social
Read here: bera.ac.uk/blog/documen...
March 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Great to see @beranews.bsky.social highlighting @iancushing.bsky.social’s powerful research findings ✨ 🙏on the “colonial logic” at work in Ofsted’s undervaluing of non-‘standard’ 😑 English and overvaluing of (neuro)normative ‘oracy’ 🙄 #SEND- and #doubleempathyproblem- relevant.
experience #schooldistress to the extent that #attendance is impossible. Further ?mistakes? include the sloppy conflation of diagnosis, ‘labels’ & EHCPs, seemingly to invalidate each and further erase cognitive outliers from the teacher gaze, thereby amplifying the #doubleempathyproblem. Finally,
September 10, 2025 at 7:00 AM
experience #schooldistress to the extent that #attendance is impossible. Further ?mistakes? include the sloppy conflation of diagnosis, ‘labels’ & EHCPs, seemingly to invalidate each and further erase cognitive outliers from the teacher gaze, thereby amplifying the #doubleempathyproblem. Finally,
Haha. As teachers trying to intervene in an ed system which perpetuates v poor outcomes for ND YP, concepts like
#neurodiversity
#neurodivergence
#neuro-affirming
#neuroqueer
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
might possibly be more helpful than ‘creativity distribution’ and ‘woo’.
#neurodiversity
#neurodivergence
#neuro-affirming
#neuroqueer
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
might possibly be more helpful than ‘creativity distribution’ and ‘woo’.
August 2, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Haha. As teachers trying to intervene in an ed system which perpetuates v poor outcomes for ND YP, concepts like
#neurodiversity
#neurodivergence
#neuro-affirming
#neuroqueer
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
might possibly be more helpful than ‘creativity distribution’ and ‘woo’.
#neurodiversity
#neurodivergence
#neuro-affirming
#neuroqueer
#monotropism
#doubleempathyproblem
might possibly be more helpful than ‘creativity distribution’ and ‘woo’.
The second installment of my new blog series. This one looks at The Double Empathy problem and how this helps us understand Autistic experience.
dghndconsultancy.co.uk/2025/12/21/a...
#DoubleEmpathyProblem #DoubleEmpathy #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #UnderstandingAutism
dghndconsultancy.co.uk/2025/12/21/a...
#DoubleEmpathyProblem #DoubleEmpathy #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #UnderstandingAutism
Understanding Autism: The Double Empathy Problem - DGH Neurodivergent Consultancy
This second installment of Understanding Autism focuses on the double empathy problem and hpw differences in cultural experience create communication breakdown.
dghndconsultancy.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The second installment of my new blog series. This one looks at The Double Empathy problem and how this helps us understand Autistic experience.
dghndconsultancy.co.uk/2025/12/21/a...
#DoubleEmpathyProblem #DoubleEmpathy #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #UnderstandingAutism
dghndconsultancy.co.uk/2025/12/21/a...
#DoubleEmpathyProblem #DoubleEmpathy #Autistic #ActuallyAutistic #UnderstandingAutism
Important UK research re School Distress (‘refusal’): “people who have not experienced parenting #neurodivergent CYP may be less able to appreciate the more foundational difficulties [they] experience at school”. Excellent quant and qual data in thread & links 📊✨🙏 #doubleempathyproblem
I’d imagine the vast majority of parent/ carers identify strongly with this. Sadly. 1 in 2 is a horrific statistic.
“1 in2 affected parents developed a new mental health condition since their child’s difficulties started.
It suggests it’s the experience of supporting a child with school attendance difficulties that imperils parental mental health”
@sineadmullally.bsky.social
www.frontiersin.org/news/2025/04...
It suggests it’s the experience of supporting a child with school attendance difficulties that imperils parental mental health”
@sineadmullally.bsky.social
www.frontiersin.org/news/2025/04...
April 25, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Important UK research re School Distress (‘refusal’): “people who have not experienced parenting #neurodivergent CYP may be less able to appreciate the more foundational difficulties [they] experience at school”. Excellent quant and qual data in thread & links 📊✨🙏 #doubleempathyproblem