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Aurora Consulting, Aberdeen (2026)

07/04/2026

Today is World Health Day so when better to look at Autistic health as part of our Autistic Empowerment Campaign.

You may have read the manifesto released by Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics CIC, ARGH Scotland, AMASE - Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh, and Avatar Borders - and if not, check out the blog on our website. Two of the actions we have asked for are annual health checks for Autistic people along with mandatory Autistic crafted and delivered training.

Accessible healthcare is a passion of mine as a medical frequent flyer (I sit writing this waiting for an appointment for monthly blood tests). There are huge barriers and inequalities we face, all of which can and should be acknowledged and addressed.

As a community we are more likely to experience:

* Poor mental health
* Sleep disorders
* Gastrointestinal problems
* Connective tissue issues
* Endometriosis
* Fibromyalgia
* Allergies
* Challenges related to menopause
* Later diagnosis of cancer

And much more - and all of this without factoring in other intersecting identities such as gender, ethnicity, poverty, etc. Timely access to good quality healthcare is essential for us.

I’ve delivered training to GPs, Mental Health Officers, CAMHS, Speech and Language Therapists, Health Visitors, and more, and all of them have said that they had not accessed training in supporting Autistic patients until that point. None had been signposted to Autistic sources of info. While in hospital recovering from my most recent operation, two members of staff asked what I do for work, and when learning I delivered Autistic led training both said that’s something they’d very much like to attend - many medical professionals recognise this is an area they want to improve upon.

The lack of mandatory training for medical professionals contributes to our difficulties accessing timely healthcare. Like many of you out there I have heard some horrendously ableist things while trying to access healthcare - one doctor laughed nervously as he informed me that Autistic people think too much based off his friend’s stories about his nephew 🤦‍♀️ And the last thing I wanted to hear mid breast exam. I don’t think he thought that comment through enough…

During the training I’ve delivered to medical professionals there are some points I always try and include:

* General myth busting. You need a solid foundation of understanding to build on
* Understanding of how Autistic people communicate so they take us seriously, support all forms of communication, and don’t expect us to exaggerate our symptoms
* Understanding of Autistic sensory experiences and how to support them in their practice
* Understanding of Autistic health care related trauma so they can support us in a trauma informed way
* The importance of continuity of care to allow you to build a trusting relationship with your Autistic patient
* Discussion of Autistic interoception so they understand why it can be hard for us to process when we are in pain, poorly, etc.
* Understanding that many of us need more information than allistic patients

Taking responsibility to adjust the environment, give us enough time to communicate in a way that works for us, and take our concerns seriously are important steps for making healthcare more accessible and giving us better outcomes.

Also remember there is a free to download, completely customisable Medical Passport to download from our website. Head to the knowledge centre’s downloads section to grab yours. And ICYMI, last week we ran a series of posts on what to expect when having an operation. You can also check our colonoscopy blog! Have I mentioned accessible healthcare is a passion of mine?! 😉

And I can’t write a health related post without saying there is no link between vaccines and being Autistic! Vaccines do not cause Autism. My appointment for my next Covid jab came through recently and I am incredibly grateful to still be offered them.

07/04/2026

This popped up in my memories this morning and definitely thought it was worth sharing!

Who has lived experience of “Autism”? - Autistic people. Just us Autistics.

Autism is not a separate entity that exists outside us. It can’t be teased out, and all my experiences are experienced through an Autistic mind / body system. It’s a core, integral experience. If I wasn’t Autistic I’d be a completely different person.

Non Autistic people may have experience of being around us, interpreting things through their allistic perspective but that’s not the same as actually being Autistic.

There are many, many things I don’t have lived experience of! And if I want to learn more about these experiences, the best place to go is directly to the source. Just same as with going to Autistics to learn about what it’s like to be Autistic.

06/04/2026

Every time I see bees I get delighted.

Every time.

And this fuzzy friend was enjoying my garden this afternoon.

For newcomers to this page, I love photographing bees. It shows the intricate beauty of their wings as well as just how fluffy they can be. Excellent little palette cleanser while doomscrolling I hope!

06/04/2026

In today's Autistic Empowerment post we are looking at Autistic sensory experiences.

So much of what we read about sensory processing focuses on sensory hell and how difficult it can be to access areas due to the sensory environment. This is a real issue, and can sometimes make finding appropriate places to live, work, and learn incredibly difficult if we don’t have access to reasonable adjustments. But this is only half the story, and there is so much we can do to support our sensory processing.

Sensory processing as an Autistic person can also bring me a huge amounts amount of joy.

Our sensory glimmers are just as important to know about as our sensory triggers.

I absolutely love:

The smell of freshly cut grass

The crash of waves on the beach as I smell the salty air

The comforting taste of my favourite homemade soup

A tight squeeze from a loved one

Leaves dancing as they float to the ground

Snow drifting past as I drive, making me feel like we are warping back home

These things and more can lift my mood like nothing else. As difficult as some sensory processing can be, some is absolutely amazing!

Supporting my sensory needs supports my emotions and vice versa. The more relaxed I am the more sensory input I can tolerate. The better the sensory input, the more relaxed I am.

Supporting sensory needs are extremely individualised and can vary wildly from person to person as well as throughout our lifetime. I have always had a strong dislike of lavender even though many people find it soothing. And my sensory needs have fluctuated a lot as I went through puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. A good OT can help with developing a sensory profile to ensure that you understand your sensory needs and how to meet them. They can also write reports for work and education.

When creating a sensory safe haven at home, flexibility is often key. Having multiple lighting options, access to natural light, and/or a good quality dimmer switch can make a huge difference. The big light is often just too bright. Sound proofing if you have noisy neighbours can sometimes be essential to our well being as Autistic ears can often hear things that other people miss. And if you have Autistic people with competing needs, it’s absolutely understandable if you need additional space to ensure those needs can be met.

As an Autistic person there are some things I almost never leave the house without; ear plugs, head phones, sensory pleasing clothes, fidget tools, sunglasses, hat. It’s no wonder why I always have a backpack! These all help me navigate a world that is often too noisy, too bright, and overwhelming in other ways. Not to mention that a heavy backpack is good sensory input all by itself.

It took me a while to give myself permission to always have these things to hand, and even longer to actually use them as required. It is ok to wear sunglasses inside, I do that regularly. It’s fine to wear earplugs while socialising with friends. I love when I’m in a café with Autistic friends and family and we all pull out our sensory tools!

It’s also perfectly reasonable to ask for adjustments in sensory environments you find difficult, and access to reasonable adjustments is covered in the Equality Act 2010 and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Our sensory experiences are regularly dismissed by others, but they are real. Supporting our sensory needs drastically improves the quality of our lives, and often supports others around us too.

05/04/2026

In today’s Autistic Empowerment Campaign post I want to look at why we campaign for a ban on behaviourism and what we can do better.

What counts as behaviourism?

Behaviourism begins with the premise that our way of being is inherently wrong and needs to be adjusted. This way we can match Western standards of what is deemed “socially acceptable” so racism is also inherently a component.

Goals are set for the person to aim for, often without their input or consent. You know how I talk about enthusiastic consent a lot (including yesterday!)? That’s not what is sought here. It’s compliance based so while agreement is nice, it’s not necessary.

These goals are often contradictory to our communication and culture. Different behaviourists will have different goals. Some will tell you it’s not about stopping stimming and encouraging eye contact, but their understanding of what stimming covers and how we communicate is often fundamentally flawed. Having seen the reading lists for some of the behaviourism courses available in the UK they are not up to date and they are not based on Autistic lived experiences.

Here’s a wee example I used last year that pretty much every teacher will recognise.

“We are waiting till everyone is sitting nicely”

What on earth does that mean?

For many teachers it means:

Looking at the teacher
Straight back, legs crossed
Arms folded
No fidgeting
Everyone. Perfectly. Still.
For an unspecified amount of time.

And I’ll admit when I was teaching and didn’t know any better I said this too to my enormous regret because that’s what I was taught.

But why is this such an issue?

Let’s break it down.

Looking at the teacher: not all kids feel comfortable looking at the teacher. Sometimes it’s far easier to listen if we aren’t looking.

A straight back and crossed legs might be difficult to manage if we have hyper mobility which many Autistic people do. There are often far more comfortable ways to sit.

Arms folded: but my arms and my hands might need to move! There’s nothing wrong with that.

No fidgeting: my body sometimes needs to move too, especially if I want to listen. Sometimes stimming is exactly what I need to regulate my emotions.

And waiting until everyone does this simultaneously for an unspecified time is very non specific. Some teachers want this for a couple seconds. Others m i l k it.

Making Autistic children behave in a way that is contrary to their natural ways of being encourages us to mask heavily. It disconnects us from our bodies as we ignore the discomfort in the hopes of gaining a sticker. As a late identified adult I assure you, it takes a long, long time to reconnect with our bodies and emotions.

In this example, teachers should instead encourage pupils to sit as they feel comfortably! Let them look where they feel comfortable too. This sends a strong message that they value Autistic needs. Not wants. Not preferences. Needs.

Behaviourists also ignore “unwanted” behaviours or “negative” behaviours - but again, who decides which behaviours are negative or unwanted?

Ignoring a meltdown is actively ignoring Autistic distress. The use of “antecedent, behaviour, consequence” charts focus on what happened right before the meltdown and doesn’t consider the complex range of factors that could have contributed to a meltdown. It teaches nothing about co-regulation or exploring how to minimise the chances of future meltdowns with similar causes.

Repeatedly having distress ignored and boundaries crossed, repeatedly getting the message that we are wrong on a fundamental level. No wonder this is strongly linked to cPTSD.

Our position of supporting a ban on behaviourism that we take at Aurora is based on a lifetime worth of experience.

Of having these “approaches” used on me.

Having seen the impact of them being used on my family.

Having seen the impact of them used on innumerable clients.

On reading the testimonies of those who have been subjected to them.

On talking to former behaviourists.

Autistic dignity and wellbeing is not a debate.

People may ask “what can we do instead?” Excellent question!

* Learn from Autistic people - and pay Autistic educators for training
* Recognise that Autistic people are not built “wrong”
* Support disability rights and reasonable adjustments
* Support Autistic people up advocate for those rights and reasonable adjustments
* Create connections
* Support and share in passionate interests
* Support all forms of communication
* Stim!
* Celebrate Autistic Pride
* Learn about Monotropism
* Learn about Autistic culture
* Practice radical Autistic acceptance every day
* Keep challenging your preconceptions

This is a starters list but it’s a good start. The more people value Autistic identity and call out behaviourism the better.

04/04/2026

I am still beyond overwhelmed to have been nominated for the National Diversity Awards Positive disabled role model. I read over the comments last week and - now I need to buy a new box of tissues cause my eyes leaked a lot. Y’all are amazing.

If you’d like to vote for me, you know where I am gonna pop the link!

04/04/2026

Making family events accessible is so important.

With it being Easter tomorrow (and happy Easter to all who celebrate) there are gonna be a lot of family gatherings.

These can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t all been together since Christmas. As lovely as it can be seeing everyone, here’s a few reminders and tips for an accessible family gathering:

Enthusiastic consent is the absolute minimum we should seek before hugs and kisses. “Grandma has missed you and will be sad if you don’t give her a hug” is not a reason to hug someone. Finding ways to show affection without physical contact supports everyone.

Having an identified space to go is someone needs peace and quiet is very useful. Even if you have the best relationships with your family, you might still benefit from some down time.

Ensure there is familiar food for everyone who needs it. Family gatherings can be stressful enough without having to try new food which we may or may not like. A good supply of snacks and familiar drinks can help.

Bring toys, fidget tools, devices, books, whatever would be helpful for keeping regulated.

Smiling in photos is optional! Being told to smile is very difficult for many of us. What does a “nice smile” even look like? It’s also a demand which some of us struggle with. Not smiling doesn’t mean we aren’t having fun. And sometimes pulling silly faces is a lot more fun than figuring out how to smile nicely anyway. I don’t think there’s a single photo of me “smiling nicely” between ages of 10 and 30 that wasn’t taken candidly.

Share a plan for the day including things like:

* time you are leaving / guests are arriving
* how long it will take to get there
* when you will arrive
* who will be there
* any planned activities
* when food will be served
* when we are heading home
* photos of the location if they haven’t been there for a while

Building in flexibility and downtime, and creating these plans together helps give agency and control.

Family gatherings can also be stressful if a loved one says anything negative about being Autistic. It’s ok to maintain barriers and refuse to engage on topics. If you do want to engage, it can be worth asking where they got their information from, and signposting to Autistic led sources of information instead. We don’t have to listen to ableism and if you’re worried, it sometimes can be useful to discuss your concerns with the host in advance and come up with a plan should it happen.

Attendance at large family events is also optional! It’s totally fine to do whatever is right for your family. No matter what your plans are, I hope you have a great day tomorrow.

04/04/2026

For today’s Autistic Empowerment Campaign post, let’s look at disability.

Disability is not a bad word.

When I ask people what they think of the word disability in relation to Autistic people, I am often assured that Autism is not a disability, it’s a different ability, it’s a superpower, or, a personal favourite, “I don’t see you as disabled”.

This is often well meaning, but it’s not helpful. If you don’t see my disability, if you don’t see I’m Autistic, you don’t see me or half the struggles I face when interacting with the world. And they miss out the joys too.

Every Autistic person has a right to decide if they see themselves as disabled or not, and this is a conversation I have had with hundreds of Autistic and otherwise disabled people. Autism is a protected characteristic under the law and in the UK, schools, employers, organisations, and wider society are bound by the Equality Act 2010. This is designed to give protection against discrimination based on your disability. Internationally there is the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which has been ratified into UK law.

If being Autistic is a difference in how our mind operates, then what makes us disabled?

Being in a sensory environment which is not supportive of our needs can be incredibly disabling. It can be harder to concentrate or relax. We can’t filter out sensory input the way most allistic people can so sensory bombardment can be very real.

Having others misunderstand our communication can be disabling. They may think we are implying something we are not or think we are disinterested because of our body language when we are engaged when we want to keep listening. It can also be incredibly difficult to convey just how important it is for people to communicate clearly with us when their idea of clear communication doesn’t match ours.

We can be disabled by hiring practices where we are judged on a personality contest rather than our ability to do our job. When we don’t get the questions in advance, or when we don’t have the opportunity to show our skills at the job itself.

We can be disabled in education when we are not given enough information before an exam, or not have the opportunity to clarify exam questions. We can also be disabled by having to switch classes while our monotropic brains are mid-flow.

Sometimes even with all the adjustments in the world in place, with the best policies and procedures, with the most understanding of people around us, we can still be disabled. We can meltdown or experience situational non speaking because of positive feelings. Unexpected things just happen, that’s part of life.

Embracing our disabled identity can be empowering. We open ourselves up to advocating for our needs as disabled people. We may feel more comfortable receiving the support we need, and allow us to access the wider disability community.

Reasonable adjustments are not special treatment. It’s levelling the playing field so we have the same opportunities as our non disabled peers. They allow us to flourish and improve our quality of life.

We may also be able to apply for benefits such as Child Disability Living Allowance, ADP, Blue Badge, disabled person’s rail card, or a CEA cinema card (most of which I receive myself!).

So if an Autistic person tells you they are disabled, don’t tone police and tell us not to use that term. Don’t use euphemisms. Being Autistic can mean both difference and disability at the same time. And that’s ok. The tragedy is not having our needs seen or met, not in being disabled.

03/04/2026

Have you heard of Grunya Sukhareva?

Leo Kanner and that eugenicist whose name I am not writing here are often credited with writing the first papers on Autistic children but their work came after Sukhareva’s.

Sukhareva was a scientist born in Kyiv. She worked with children in a school for those with no family after World War 1. Sukhareva published papers cataloguing Autistic characteristics in 1925 and 27. Her findings are considered similar to what was published in the DCM5 and ICD11, and included Autistic girls. Definitely ahead of her time! And you have to wonder if her work was taken more seriously at the time where we would be in terms of Autistic acceptance and empowerment.

03/04/2026

Yesterday we discussed the infinity loop and its significance in Autistic culture for our Autistic Empowerment Campaign. Like many minority and marginalised communities, Autistic people have a growing culture to which we can join in if we so choose. There are many wonderful aspects to this.

We have our own celebrations such as Autistic Pride on 18th June and Autiversaries. I celebrated my Autiversary last week and cannot wait for Autistic Pride.

Our own ways of using language filled with echolalia, differences in body language, and AAC, not to mention infodumping! AAC isn’t just for non speakers, it’s also for those who are minimally speaking, situationally non speaking, and those who just find it easier. As someone who is often situationally non speaking I often write or text when I need to.

We have our own ways of playing. Lining things up, setting up a scene, replaying fave parts of movies or tv shows, parallel play, and lots more - our play sometimes looks different but it’s no less fun.

Many of us enjoy samefoods, often in a beigeatarian diet. Some others like me love exploring all the tastes on offer, often all at once!

Stimming is something all humans do, but many Autistic people stim much more frequently for emotional and physical regulation, memory retention and recall, as well as for the pure fun of it! Handflapping and humming, spinning and swirling.

And speaking of fun, Autistic joy, especially Autistic joy shared with another, is a wonderful experience. This for me is how friendships get rejoiced - shared glee with a common topic, finding connections between our interests, joining up our interests and combining them. I’ve had many walks (my big interest) while looking out for corvids (Flappy Inky Feathers’ big interest) while talking about Firefly and other sci fi and fantasy (a shared big interest). Beautiful shared monotropic flow state!

Many of us have a wickedly dark sense of humour, which is often very punny too. Sometimes this is self deprecating, and sometimes it’s bang on the nose observations. Many comedians are neurodivergent and find the comedy in the absurdity of every day life.

Social justice is another aspect of Autistic culture, with many of us having a strong sense of social justice, and very low tolerance for any kind of discrimination. The need to act on social injustice - whether that’s organising or attending rallies, helping others learn about their rights, or advocating for ourselves, this can take a lot of forms.

These are just a few examples of Autistic culture in action, there are lots, lots more, many of which we will continue exploring during our Autistic Empowerment Campaign and beyond.

02/04/2026

Awareness is not something we need as a community. People are already aware that Autistic people exist.

We have increasing representation in tv and movies. A lot of that remains less than ideal - we still get framed as a problem that others have to put up with too often. While it’s good to see some better representation coming in it’s often not as nuanced as it could be.

So if we don’t need awareness, what do we need?

We need understanding.
Understanding of who we are beyond the stereotypes, understanding of our culture, our communication.

We need knowledge.
Knowledge of our rights, knowledge of the need for flexibility, knowledge that we are all individuals, knowledge that we have intersecting identities.

We need empowerment.
Empowered to take up space, to not just sit at the table when people are making decisions about our community, but to be leading those conversations.

We also need these things every single day of the year, not just April the 2nd, not just this month.

Aurora Consulting

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