Narrative practices and autism: Part 2: Expanding on understandings of autism — Courtney Olinger

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Autism, like many psychological diagnoses, has suffered some narrow interpretations and representations, particularly in the media. Modern definitions of autism are often heavily focused on impairment and deficit. This can significantly skew individuals’ understanding of their own identities and how others come to understand the role of autism in their lives. This paper embarks on a deconstruction and expansion of understandings of autism, including voices of autistic individuals. This serves as an example of possible ways to thicken one’s own identity when developing an understanding of autism. This is the second article in a three-part series exploring different concepts associated with working with autism. It builds on the focus on theory and engagement in Part 1.