Kieran and Chloe are back again this week, asking the important questions: how much can you change a mince pie before it stops being a mince pie?

The articles this episode look at how to find an ADHD-friendly job, autism strategies in North Yorkshire, and new funding for ND-led youth groups in Manchester.

Plus: how to address someone with the same name as you when you don't like saying your own name!

As always, you can find references to all the articles and events we cover by following us on Instagram @theautisticexperience.

New episodes come out every Sunday!

Don't panic, but it's December-- that means you know what is just around the corner! Unpack the worst M&Ms, prepare your reacting face, and brace yourself for this episode of The Autistic Experience!

This week, Chloe introduces the Black Country delicacy 'orange chips', Kieran uses the phrase "statistically significant", and there's another cameo from the guinea pigs!

Also, we've got the official gift-giving guide for this year, so if you want to avoid giving a rubbish present, or are looking for presents for any autistic folk in your life, listen on!

Episode Chapters:

0:00 Theme Song

1:00 Introduction

2:49 Home News

5:23 Story 1: Accessible Chip Shop!

10:21 Story 2: Some Unsurprising Statistics

18:34 Story 3: Make Room for Shrooms

23:57 The Official Autistic Gifting Guide

34:10 Upcoming Events

39:57 Outro

It's all transport at home as Kieran's been teaching Chloe to drive, and Chloe's had an interesting time cycling lately. Meanwhile, they take a look at what the Autumn statement means for autistic people, get to the point of a slightly rambling article, and discuss how improv comedy is beneficial for neurodivergent brains.

Events this week include sensory issues in a cathedral, Lego, and queer book discussions!

As always, you can check out references to all the articles and events we cover on our Instagram page @theautisticexperience - we'd also appreciate a nice rating & review on whatever podcast app you're listening on!

Chapter times:

(0:00-1:00) Theme song

(1:00-2:14) Introduction

(2:14-14:57) Home News

(14:57-21:44) Story: ND Relationships

(24:44-26:40) Story: Autumn Statement

(26:40-31:20) Story: Improv is Good, Actually

(31:20-35:52) Question of the Week

(35:52-39:46) Upcoming Events

(39:46-41:13) Outro

Grab a cup of evening tea and get cosy for this week's episode of The Autistic Experience!

Kieran and Chloe catch us up on their ridiculous new guinea pig fosters, Rosie and Momo, share the latest autism news stories - including a rather depressing (and predictable) update of mental health legislation in the UK, give advice for avoiding awkward family events, and highlight accessible local happenings for the neurodivergent community.

As always, you can follow us on Instagram @theautisticexperience for references to the articles and events we've talked about, and we'd appreciate it if you left us a nice review on whatever podcast platform you're listening on!

Timestamps:

(0:00-1:13) Cold Open & Theme Song

(1:13-5:20) Introduction

(5:27-8:25) Home News

(8:29-12:28) Story 1: Sensory Garden in Co Antrim

(12:33-23:00) Story 2: A Suspicious Lack of Mental Health

(23:04-27:00) Question of the Week

(27:04-31:36) Upcoming Events

(31:36-34:00) Outro

This week, Chloe and Kieran take a look at some of the fallout of fireworks night, accidentally test the validity of an idiom, and theorise the most efficient way to administer a vaccination.

As always, they look at some of the most interesting news stories featuring or written by neurodivergent folk, including further evidence of the damage the ADHD medication shortage is causing, and the absolutely heart-breaking story of Nicholas Thornton.

Events this week include the National Autistic Society's comedy night and a canal-based art installation.

Check out references to all the stories and events we cover on our Instagram page @theautisticexperience - and while we're here, leave a review on whatever podcast platform you're listening on!

Episode Timestamps:

Theme Song (0:00)

Intro (1:00)

Home News (2:50)

Story 1: Firework Fallout (8:00)

Story 2: More ADHD Medication Woes (13:55)

Story 3: Nicholas Thornton (22:33)

Question of the Week (35:26)

Upcoming events (40:37)

Outro (46:36)

What even is a rhyme, anyway? And what does it have to do with Kieran's evening tea?

These are just two existential questions Kieran and Chloe struggle with as they plunge into this week's ND news, following up on York's ADHD trials, sensory swimming pools, and being neurodivergent in prison.

As always, we've got some event highlights coming up in the next week, with one question to answer: whose side are you on?

You can always go follow the show on Instagram @theautisticexperience - because, as we've said, we're very needy people who like being liked.

Episode chapters:

(00:00-01:15) - Cold open & theme song

(01:15-03:07) - Introduction

(03:07-07:20) - Home News

(07:20-14:46) - York's ADHD woes

(14:46-18:40) - Sensory swimming pools

(18:40-24:56) - Being neurodivergent in prison

(24:56-29:44) - Question of the Week

(29:44-36:35) - Upcoming Events

(36:35-39:17) - Outro

It's spooky season, so we have only one question: What Would a Vegetarian Vampire Do?

#WWAVVD

Elsewhere, Kieran and Chloe have been travelling for a wedding, have been to see a recently-rescued polar bear, and have quite a few tips and tricks on how to get through both Halloween and Bonfire Night in the UK.

If you've got any of your own tips on how to do an ND-friendly Halloween/fireworks night, head on over to our Instagram page @theautisticexperience to let us know!

Chapters:

00:00-01:00 - Theme Song

01:00-02:27 - Intro

02:27-06:52 - Home News

06:52-12:30 - Halloween

12:30-21:11 - Bonfire Night

21:11-23:20 - Outro

It's a real rollercoaster of representation today as Chloe and Kieran take a look at a particularly promising Kickstarter, airport accessibility, awards antics, and really go to town on an autism journal review that's worryingly supportive of ABA.

Also, in this week's question we try to figure out what exactly a friend is, and look forward to some of the upcoming ND-friendly events happening around the UK next week.

For references, go to our Instagram page @theautisticexperience, and give us a follow while you're at it!

Episode chapters:

(01:00) Introduction

(02:38) Home News

(07:26) Autistic-Friendly Clothing on Kickstarter

(12:25) Toronto Airport Accessibility Tour

(14:33) Reviewing a Journal Review (aka ABA is bad)

(34:26) Question of the Week: What are Friends?

(41:00) Upcoming ND-Friendly Events

(47:14) Outro

It was World Mental Health day on the 10th October, did you enjoy it? With ADHD and autism assessment wait times at an all time high, medication unavailable, and no-one willing to actually talk about serious mental health issues because podcast and Youtube algorithms say that you're not even allowed to say certain words pertaining to mental health or your work will be restricted?

Yeah, it's going great for us too.

All that and more this week as Chloe and Kieran really get stuck in to how it's all gone a bit wrong.

There are some sensitive topics covered here, as you can imagine, but with some clever bleeping you won't actually have to hear the words the algorithm doesn't like, but if you'd rather avoid the topic altogether, then we've added timecodes below to help you out.

(00:00) Introduction

(02:15) Home News

(06:29) News Story 1: More ADHD Medication Shortages, woo

(12:09) News Story 2: Sheffield has a 261-year wait for ADHD assessments

(18:17) News Story 3: Mental health awareness is a bit of a mess

(25:02) This is the particularly sensitive bit

(30:22) This is the bit you can skip to! Question of the Week

(35:25) Upcoming Events

(42:07) Outro

This week, join Kieran and Chloe as they recount their paddleboarding mission to test water quality along 15 miles of rather nasty canals. Delve into the mind of a musical maestro who crafted a monumental symphony entirely in his head, as well as the iconic musician David Byrne and how he expressed his autistic experience through performance. Plus, a look forward to upcoming events, and the opportunity to say farewell to foster friend Edison before he leaves for his forever home.

Go follow the show on Instagram @theautisticexperience for extra bits and show reminders!

Chapters

(01:37) Bring on Edison!

(04:15) Are autistic people basically human guinea pigs?

(07:43) Home News: Paddling and Pain

(14:23) Story 1: Update on last week's Northern Echo piece

(20:44) Story 2: Talking Heads and Autism on Screen

(24:50) Story 3: Symphony of the Mind

(30:02) Story 4: ADHD in Relationships

(34:33) Question of the Week: Autistic roommate dumping information on other roommate

(40:41) Upcoming Events & End