About NatureAware Scotland
Autistic people have been systematically excluded from climate conversations – not through deliberate rejection, but because traditional environmental engagement frameworks are fundamentally incompatible with autistic strengths and processing styles. Conventional climate initiatives, built on neurotypical communication norms and productivity pressures, fail to harness what autistic people bring to environmental work: capacity for deep sensory immersion, sophisticated pattern recognition, sustained focused attention, and authentic reciprocal relationships with nature.
NatureAware Scotland is changing that.
Developed by Tabitha Jayne from Earthself in partnership with SWAN (Scottish Women’s Autistic Network), NatureAware Scotland is an autistic-led movement that emerged from one of just eight projects selected from over 180 applicants to the Scottish Government’s Climate Engagement Fund in 2024.
Autistic experiences of nature - characterized by deep sensory immersion, natural embrace of reciprocity, and resistance to exploitative relationships - don't just add perspectives to existing climate work; they fundamentally reimagine what effective environmental engagement can be
Traditional climate initiatives, built on neurotypical communication norms and productivity pressures, systematically fail to harness autistic strengths: our capacity for sustained focused attention, pattern recognition, authentic relationship-building, and principled commitment to genuine expression
When given appropriate structure and peer support, autistic collaborative intelligence generates innovative methodologies for environmental action - proving that we don't just participate in climate work, we transform it
Our purpose
To amplify autistic voices and harness autistic collaborative intelligence as a catalyst for nature-positive community action across Scotland, while documenting and sharing the innovative methodologies that emerge.
Our vision
A Scotland where autistic individuals lead nature-positive community action, recognised not just for unique perspectives but for the sophisticated frameworks, peer networks, and authentic engagement approaches we create – transforming how environmental work is conceived and delivered.
Our story
NatureAware began as a workshop helping businesses and communities create nature-positive action to halt and reverse nature loss in Scotland. Following Scottish Government Climate Engagement Fund support in 2024, NatureAware became a coaching adventure created in partnership between SWAN and Earthself.
Through seven months of intensive work with 15 autistic participants, we discovered something profound: we weren’t just running a program – we were documenting how autistic collaborative intelligence, given appropriate conditions, generates entirely new approaches to environmental engagement.
Now, NatureAware Scotland is evolving into a broader movement, grounded in authentic autistic leadership and genuine systemic transformation. We’re not asking for accommodation within existing frameworks – we’re creating new ones.
Join the movement
Email: natureaware@earthself.org