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Steve Johnson
My Skills
I’m a creative person and love visual work, but I’m also passionate about equality and am a writer.
My skill set includes:Graphic Design.Photography.Illustration.Period ship and mechanical model making. Writing, and published author.Public speaker about equality and autism.Qualifications in Understanding Autism.
Violin
Digital illustration(More information below)
COMMUNICATION*
EMPATHY
CREATIVITY
SOCIAL SKILLS*
*Being autistic I struggle with communication but enjoy speaking publicly
My beliefs are global, with no boundaries
I have faced discrimination head-on at various points in my life. Experiencing discrimination first-hand made me think about my own prejudices (we all have them) and it changed me. I have fought prejudice, and believe that as individuals we have to challenge those prejudices, and it marks us out as individuals in the way we deal with them. No one should ever be made to feel less valued than anybody else. We are all human beings living on one tiny planet. I embrace my neurodiversity, I am very positive about my autism. I give talks about being autistic and am writing a book about seeing autism from the point of view of someone who is autistic.
Understanding AUTISM
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.In the section below I’ll try and explain a bit more about autism and provide links to further information. I will also explain the link betwween sexuality and autism. Clicking Read More will take you to the National Autistic Society website in a new tab or window.
The points below are based on information on the NAS website.
I created this violin image in 1998, using a program I still use, Xara Designer Pro+ (as it is is now), a brilliant vector image creation program. It took a long time and many, many hours to finish and comprises hundreds of layers. This is an image of the finished illustration, below that is the wire frame view which gives some idea of its complexity, which will appear a few seconds later.
THINKING IN COLOURAutism from the inside outSee www.stevejohnson.uk/colourfor moreinformationMy new book will look at autism from the point of view of autistic people themselves, including my own autism. I will explore how we experience our autism, from the inside out, and how we deal with the issues it can cause. I will also include testimony from the parents and siblings of autistic people. I hope it will be useful for anyone who might be interested in learning more about autism or for those why are autistic, reading about how other autistic people deal with theirs, Most autistic people and some people who are not autistic have a visual way of thinking. I do, and it can provide a colourful world of thought which can help in so many ways, although there are a few challenges to this too. I call it Thinking in Colour. Here is a potential cover design! As the work progresses I shall include updates here and on social media and on my other website.www.stevejohnson.uk/author andwww.stevejohnson/colour
Without FAVOUR or AFFECTION, MALICE or ILL-WILL
See also my other pages for more information www.stevejohnson.uk/authorIn 2006, Staffordshire Police achieved a groundbreaking milestone when they topped the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index as the most gay-friendly employer. This remarkable transformation was a stark contrast to the institutionalized homophobia that had plagued the force a decade earlier. At the helm, Chief Constable John Giffard led the charge, steering the organization away from its deeply ingrained prejudice. The journey towards acceptance began, symbolized by the resilience of a serving special constable who had once battled discrimination. Today, as society progresses, the landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals in Britain has evolved, reflecting a more inclusive and accepting era."Without Favour or Affection, Malice or Ill Will" is more than a memoir; it is a redemption story for modern times. It illuminates the path from darkness to light, from despair to triumph, and from oppression to liberation. Steve's unwavering commitment to justice and equality serves as a clarion call to all who aspire to create a more just and equitable society.Available from most bookshops and online Published May 2024
There is lots of information from studies about sexual identity and autism. Below is a link to a recent Cambridge University study. The percentage could be as high as 42–69% of people with autism who identify as same-sex attracted or a sexual minority, up to eight times higher than in the general population.
I have been building period ship models since I was about fourteen. I now also make mechanical wooden models, including clocks.
HM Brig Badger 1776
HM Brig Badger 1776
HM Brig Badger 1776
12 Gun Danish ship
12 Gun Danish ship
12 Gun Danish ship
Wright brothers Flyer
Wright brothers Flyer
Wright brothers Flyer
I have written many articles for the BBC website in the time I worked for the BBC, and I have also written articles for magazines and newspapers. Apart from the book I had published in 2024, and the one I am currently working on, I very occasionally write pieces which I post on WordPress and below are a few of them - the links open in WordPress.
WordPress Blog Posts
Dealing with a consumer societyA polite smile and “No, thank you” are all it takes when you answer a knock at the door to be greeted by someone with a badge and a clipboard. Well, that’s all it usually takes anyway. Sometimes they respond by INSISTING that they are not selling anything, when you know full well that they are. Then a slightly more abrupt approach is needed. …Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)Being autistic in the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic lockdownThe period we are all living through in this Covid-19 pandemic is proving to be a steep learning curve for everyone. Life has changed beyond anything we could have dreamed of even just a few months ago. …Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)The discovery in Darfar Ridge Cave… After some discussion back at Wetton Mill we decided that the only dig worth pursuing now was the passage which Martin had noticed in Darfar Ridge Cave the previous year. We had spent some time then digging a small low passage to a tight bend which we could not quite get to.Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)Building bridges – being gay in the police ServiceAs a direct result of the treatment I received from my police force I have thought long and in depth about the issues raised. When I first joined the police service as a special constable back in 1987 I knew full well that I was gay but my sexuality was pushed into the background, my prime concern at that time was my career, I hardly ever thought about my sexuality.Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)
I live in the Cathedral Close, Lichfield. I am gay, and I am autistic, two aspects which have been a major influence on my life journey. They are not unrelated, either, as I shall explain further.I have worked as a police officer for Staffordshire Police, and fought for my right to continue serving as an openly gay police officer, when I ‘came out’ in 1992. I won, and am credited with changing the force towards being the inclusive employer it now is. I now work for Staffordshire Police as a member of their Independent Advisory Group, being gay and autistic. I have written about this and it was published in May 2024. Details are on this website.I have worked for the BBC as a researcher and a journalist, working on such programmes as Countryfile, Good Morning with Ann & Nick, Midlands Today and BBC Online, looking after the arts coverage. I am an artist, graphic designer and photographer. I qualified in graphic design at art college, and for several years ran a graphic design business. I still have clients who I design for in my spare time.Having experienced discrimination first-hand, I am passionate about equality and inclusivity. I have written articles for journals and magazines and I speak publicly about the issues.I am a qualified journalist and a published author. My first book, Without Favour or Affection, Malice or Ill-Will was published internationally in 2024. It is about my experiences as a police officer and the fight for acceptance when I came out as gay. I’m currently working on my second book, which will be about being autistic.I have always enjoyed outdoor pursuits. I ran a caving group from my teens to mid twenties, and we discovered about half a mile of new cave within the Manifold Valley in North Staffordshire. I enjoy hiking, climbing and mountaineering. I’ve climbed in Snowdonia, the Swiss Alps and the French alps. If you’d like to get in touch use the feedback button on the right. . If you have read my book, please put a review from where if you have bought it from online.There is more information about my books and talks at www.stevejohnson.uk/author
My skill set includes:Graphic Design.Photography.Illustration. Period ship and mechanical model making. Writing, and published author.Public speaker about equality and autism.
*Being autistic I struggle with communication but enjoy speaking publicly
COMMUNICATION*
EMPATHY
CREATIVITY
SOCIAL SKILLS*
Violin
Digital illustration(More information below)
My beliefs are global, with no
boundaries
I have faced discrimination head-on at various points in my life. Experiencing discrimination first-hand made me think about my own prejudices (we all have them) and it changed me. I have fought prejudice, and believe that as individuals we have to challenge those prejudices, and it marks us out as individuals in the way we deal with them. No one should ever be made to feel less valued than anybody else. We are all human beings living on one tiny planet. I embrace my neurodiversity, I am very positive about my autism. I give talks about being autistic and am writing a book about seeing autism from the point of view of someone who is autistic.
Understanding AUTISM
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.In the section below I’ll try and explain a bit more about autism and provide links to further information. I will also explain the link betwween sexuality and autism. Clicking Read More will take you to the National Autistic Society website in a new tab or window.
The points below are based on information on the NAS website.
I created this violin image in 1998, using a program I still use, Xara Designer Pro+ (as it is is now), a brilliant vector image creation program. It took a long time and many, many hours to finish and comprises hundreds of layers. This is an image of the finished illustration, below that is the wire frame view which gives some idea of its complexity, which will appear a few seconds later.
THINKING IN COLOURAutism from the inside outSee www.stevejohnson.uk/colourfor moreinformationMy new book will look at autism from the point of view of autistic people themselves, including my own autism. I will explore how we experience our autism, from the inside out, and how we deal with the issues it can cause. I will also include testimony from the parents and siblings of autistic people. I hope it will be useful for anyone who might be interested in learning more about autism or for those why are autistic, reading about how other autistic people deal with theirs, Most autistic people and some people who are not autistic have a visual way of thinking. I do, and it can provide a colourful world of thought which can help in so many ways, although there are a few challenges to this too. I call it Thinking in Colour. Here is a potential cover design! As the work progresses I shall include updates here and on social media and on my other website.www.stevejohnson.uk/author andwww.stevejohnson/colour
Without FAVOUR or AFFECTION,
MALICE or ILL-WILL
See also my other pages for more information www.stevejohnson.uk/authorIn 2006, Staffordshire Police achieved a groundbreaking milestone when they topped the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index as the most gay-friendly employer. This remarkable transformation was a stark contrast to the institutionalized homophobia that had plagued the force a decade earlier. At the helm, Chief Constable John Giffard led the charge, steering the organization away from its deeply ingrained prejudice. The journey towards acceptance began, symbolized by the resilience of a serving special constable who had once battled discrimination. Today, as society progresses, the landscape for LGBTQ+ individuals in Britain has evolved, reflecting a more inclusive and accepting era."Without Favour or Affection, Malice or Ill Will" is more than a memoir; it is a redemption story for modern times. It illuminates the path from darkness to light, from despair to triumph, and from oppression to liberation. Steve's unwavering commitment to justice and equality serves as a clarion call to all who aspire to create a more just and equitable society.Available from most bookshops and online Published May 2024
There is lots of information from studies about sexual identity and autism. Below is a link to a recent Cambridge University study. The percentage could be as high as 42–69% of people with autism who identify as same-sex attracted or a sexual minority, up to eight times higher than in the general population.
I have been building period ship models since I was about fourteen. I now also make mechanical wooden models, including clocks.
HM Brig Badger 1776
HM Brig Badger 1776
HM Brig Badger 1776
12 Gun Danish ship
12 Gun Danish ship
12 Gun Danish ship
Wright brothers Flyer
Wright brothers Flyer
Wright brothers Flyer
I have written many articles for the BBC website in the time I worked for the BBC, and I have also written articles for magazines and newspapers. Apart from the book I had published in 2024, and the one I am currently working on, I very occasionally write pieces which I post on WordPress and below are a few of them - the links open in WordPress.
WordPress Blog Posts
Dealing with a consumer societyA polite smile and “No, thank you” are all it takes when you answer a knock at the door to be greeted by someone with a badge and a clipboard. Well, that’s all it usually takes anyway. Sometimes they respond by INSISTING that they are not selling anything, when you know full well that they are. Then a slightly more abrupt approach is needed. …Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)Being autistic in the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic lockdownThe period we are all living through in this Covid-19 pandemic is proving to be a steep learning curve for everyone. Life has changed beyond anything we could have dreamed of even just a few months ago. …Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)The discovery in Darfar Ridge Cave… After some discussion back at Wetton Mill we decided that the only dig worth pursuing now was the passage which Martin had noticed in Darfar Ridge Cave the previous year. We had spent some time then digging a small low passage to a tight bend which we could not quite get to.Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)Building bridges – being gay in the police ServiceAs a direct result of the treatment I received from my police force I have thought long and in depth about the issues raised. When I first joined the police service as a special constable back in 1987 I knew full well that I was gay but my sexuality was pushed into the background, my prime concern at that time was my career, I hardly ever thought about my sexuality.Read more (External link to WordPress Blog)
I live in the Cathedral Close, Lichfield. I am gay, and I am autistic, two aspects which have been a major influence on my life journey. They are not unrelated, either, as I shall explain further.I have worked as a police officer for Staffordshire Police, and fought for my right to continue serving as an openly gay police officer, when I ‘came out’ in 1992. I won, and am credited with changing the force towards being the inclusive employer it now is. I now work for Staffordshire Police as a member of their Independent Advisory Group, being gay and autistic. I have written about this and it was published in May 2024. Details are on this website.I have worked for the BBC as a researcher and a journalist, working on such programmes as Countryfile, Good Morning with Ann & Nick, Midlands Today and BBC Online, looking after the arts coverage. I am an artist, graphic designer and photographer. I qualified in graphic design at art college, and for several years ran a graphic design business. I still have clients who I design for in my spare time.Having experienced discrimination first-hand, I am passionate about equality and inclusivity. I have written articles for journals and magazines and I speak publicly about the issues.I am a qualified journalist and a published author. My first book, Without Favour or Affection, Malice or Ill-Will was published internationally in 2024. It is about my experiences as a police officer and the fight for acceptance when I came out as gay. I’m currently working on my second book, which will be about being autistic.I have always enjoyed outdoor pursuits. I ran a caving group from my teens to mid twenties, and we discovered about half a mile of new cave within the Manifold Valley in North Staffordshire. I enjoy hiking, climbing and mountaineering. I’ve climbed in Snowdonia, the Swiss Alps and the French alps. If you’d like to get in touch use the feedback button on the right. . If you have read my book, please put a review from where if you have bought it from online.There is more information about my books and talks at www.stevejohnson.uk/author
