In Zagreb with self advocate Beth Richards to talk at the fourth annual Mental Health and Autism conference organised by a small group of reluctant activists/autistic mothers.

We ate štrukli, wandered around the Festival of Lights before the conference was opened by Zagreb mayor, Tomislav Tomašević.

The day was intense. I talked about social murder, flourishing lives and the Laughing Boy production. Beth offered insights into her involvement in various projects. The Lost in the System panel, including Kristina Karlović, Jelena Čupković-Premuš, Ljilja Ivanković, Marko Buljevac and Raphael Bene, talked sense while listening to lengthy impassioned/desperate contributions from parent attendees. Niamh Mellerick offered an unusually plotted request for recognition that well meaning actions in childhood can have long term impacts for autistic children. Matea Begić Alić finished up, talking about her research into autistic people’s lives and support.

Today Beth and I ran a coproduction course at the University of Zagreb for a team of researchers pioneering different ways of doing research in Croatia. A lively and engaging conversation with the sweetest cabbage for lunch.

Contrasts, similarities and moments. Shared atrocity stories, sadness, disbelief and anger spilled into the conference and course. There’s a long way to go to change practices in Croatia though in many ways we’re not much better in the UK. Eighty odd years after the establishment of parent led groups like Mencap, the four organisers worked in the background during the conference. No limelight seeking, egos, photo opps or desire for acknowledgement. They simply want things to be better.