AMASE Newsletter, May 2026
May 03, 2026 1:24 pm
Dear AMASE members,
Welcome to the May newsletter. This year is flying past! We are enjoying the warmer and longer days and watching the blossom turn into new leaves and flowers.
Last month we held our first Strolling Group at the Royal Botanic Gardens and it was a lovely way to spend a warm and calm Sunday afternoon in nature and meet some members in person for the first time.
You will see in this newsletter that we are holding an online craft event on Thursday 7 May, 7-8:30pm as well as a few of our regular events. We have also included some other items that may be of interest.
Finally, AMASE is a volunteer run organisation and, whilst it received small grants in the past, is currently relying on donations to be able to cover core costs such as the AMASE email and Zoom IT costs. If you feel financially able to do so, please consider making a small donation to AMASE via PayPal Donate.
Best wishes,
Fiona, Leo, Gideon, Fergus, Elly, Pete and Luis.
- AMASE Virtual Tech Chat, 2026-05-12, 8-9pm (AMASE Members only)
- AMASE body-doubling session, 2026-05-13, 12-1:30pm (AMASE members only)
- AMASE Needle Felting Craft-Along, 2026-05-07, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)
- Regular AMASE Bouldering Trips – Alien Bloc – 2nd, 16th and 30th May, 11:30-2pm
- AMASE Book Club Pilot Event, 2026-05-19, 7-8:30pm
- Robin Ince book launch “Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal: My Adventures in Neurodiversity, at Lighthouse Bookshop, 2026-06-02, 7pm
- Number 6 Autism One Stop Shop May Calendar
- European Council of Autistic People (EUCAP) publishes its interview with AMASE
- ND Connection Autism Research Roundup by Ann Memmott
- Neurodiverse Training free online resource on Workplace Reasonable Adjustments
AMASE events:
1. AMASE Virtual Tech Chat, 2026-05-12 , starting at 8pm (AMASE members only)
Our next informal tech chat is on Tuesday 12th May at 8pm. This is for any member working in, playing with or learning tech (computer programming, systems administration, internet, accessibility etc). All levels of tech experience are welcome and you can bring a topic you want to discuss. To register go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4r8DqEMwR8uTqFOW38gw-A#/ and check out the #tech channel on Discord for more information.
2. Next AMASE body-doubling session, 2026-05-13, 12-1:30pm (AMASE members only)
Our next body-doubling session is on Wednesday 13th May April, 12-1:30pm on Zoom. Participants have found these sessions to be a supportive way to get needed tasks done, such as contacting a friend, cooking a meal and tackling some admin.
Sessions have previously been held in the evening, but this one will be during the day, following requests from members. Do come and experience how body doubling can work for you! You can see more information on how the session will run, and sign up if you would like to attend here: https://luma.com/rgcioqm5
3. AMASE Needle Felting Craft-Along, 2026-05-07, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)
On Thursday 7th May, we are running a craft-along session from 7-8:30pm GMT over Zoom for AMASE members.
During the session, AMASE member Ileana will use a beginner-friendly craft kit to demonstrate how to felt a capybara with wings! If you want to take part, please note that you will need to buy a kit (or use your own felting needles and felt). These are currently available for £4 from Hobbycraft. You are also welcome to watch along if you feel unsure about taking part or just want to see what similar events might be like in future.
You can see more information on how the session will run, and sign up if you would like to attend here: https://luma.com/frxfofq1
4. Regular AMASE Bouldering Trips – Alien Bloc, 16th and 30th May
Fortnightly informal bouldering sessions at Alien Bloc, in Canonmills held on Saturdays 11:30-2pm are continuing. No experience required. Entry is £13 (plus £3.50 shoe hire if needed).
If you're thinking of coming, do let us know by signing up on Luma.
- 16th May: https://luma.com/n0mt10iu
- 30th May: https://luma.com/banlpy63
5. AMASE Book Club Pilot Event, 2026-06-19, 7-8:30pm
In recent weeks a few folk have been looking at establishing an online Book Club for AMASE members. If you are on Discord you may have seen discussions in the new #general-book-club channel. The Book Club will meet monthly and look at fiction as well as non-fiction books - and perhaps other materials such as graphic novels or online articles. Keep an eye out for upcoming polls!
The first meeting will be on 19th June at 7-8:30pm. We will be discussing Robert Chapman’s Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism.
If you are interested in attending the Book Club Pilot Event, please register here https://luma.com/ulmb8co8 More details coming soon!
Other events:
6. Robin Ince book launch “Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal: My Adventures in Neurodiversity, at Lighthouse Bookshop, 2026-06-02, 7pm
Robin Ince, comedian, author and broadcaster will be at the Lighthouse Bookshop in Edinburgh on 2nd June at 7pm to talk about his last nonfiction book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal: My Adventures in Neurodiversity and read from his latest poetry collection - Let the Quiet Ones Rise: Poems about standing up and standing out - in this evening described to be of weirdness and wonder!
For tickets to this in person event and to find out more information, go to:
7. Number 6 Autism One Stop Shop May Calendar
The Number 6 One Stop Shop May calendar listing groups and activities they will be running this month can be seen here:
https://autisminitiatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/May-Calendar-2026.pdf
Other:
8. European Council of Autistic People (EUCAP) publishes its interview with AMASE
Last year Committee members Fiona (Chair) and Fergus (ex-Chair and Co-Founder) were interviewed by EUCAP, an umbrella Autistic Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO), as part of their series looking at the work and set up of its members. We were asked about AMASE, its funding and activities, including peer support, community building and advocacy. We also spoke about our close relationship with other Autistic DPOs in Scotland and the autism political landscape in Scotland.
You can read the interview here: Helping Autistic People to Help Each Other: An Interview with Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh (AMASE) - EUCAP
9. ND Connection Autism Research Roundup by Ann Memmott
Each month Ann Memmott writes a great summary of new autism-related research. The April roundup includes new studies on Rejection-Sensitivity Dysphoria, masking, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), language terminology preferences by neurodivergent adults, social media, and barriers to diagnosis for ethnically and racially minoritized autistic and ADHD adults.
You can read the article on the ND Connection website here: https://ndconnection.co.uk/blog/autism-research-april2026
On the ND Connection website you can also access their growing collection of useful neuro-affirming resources relating to wellbeing, e.g. on meltdowns, shutdowns, nervous system regulation and trauma.
10. Neurodiverse Training free online resource on Workplace Reasonable Adjustments
Neurodiverse Training have recently published an online interactive guide to reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent people in the workplace. There are 15 different areas to explore what you are entitled to and what your employer can do. This resource can be accessed here:
https://www.neurodiversetraining.org/resources/workplace-reasonable-adjustments
Neurodiverse Training are also holding some interesting webinars which are reasonably priced and free for those who are unemployed or on benefits: https://www.neurodiversetraining.org/events
Previous AMASE newsletters can be viewed here: https://sendfox.com/amase/feed
To automatically receive updates about AMASE Events published on Luma follow this link: https://luma.com/amase
AMASE is a volunteer run organisation and currently receives no funding. If you feel financially able to do so, please consider making a small donation to AMASE via PayPal Donate. Thank you to the supporter who is raising funds for AMASE with Kiltwalk and for the donations we have received to date.