Knowledge about autism and autistic knowledge. Reflection on the epistemological challenges and epistemic injustices that characterize research and knowledge in the field of autism

Added on 01/01/2025

Type de contenu

Journal article of the type Perspective ( ; french)

Marjorie Désormeaux-Moreau *
Savoirs sur l’autisme et savoirs autistes. Réflexion sur les enjeux épistémologiques et les injustices épistémiques qui caractérisent la recherche et les connaissances dans le domaine de l’autisme published in the journal "Cahiers franco-latino-américains d'études sur le handicap" n°2, , doi: 10.56078/cfla_discapacidad.345

*The author has publicly identified as autistic. [Learn more about this mention]

- 25% of authors cited in the bibliography of this resource have publicly identified as autistic (32 out of 126 authors).
- 46% of references cited in this resource contain at least one author who has publicly identified as autistic (34 out of 74 references).

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Summary/Presentation

This article offers a critical reflection on the historical and current tensions between dominant knowledge about autism and autistic knowledge, highlighting their relationship to neuronormativity. An analysis of the epistemic injustices experienced by autistic individuals and communities is presented, demonstrating how autistic knowledge is often marginalized and discredited by dominant groups. The concept of neurodiversity is used to illustrate and denounce the refusal of these groups to recognize and utilize autistic knowledge, an attitude that perpetuates the stigmatization and oppression of autistic individuals and communities. The phenomena of the double empathy problem and social camouflaging are employed to illustrate and critique Neurodiversity Lite as well as the instrumentalization of hermeneutic resources developed by autistic individuals. The article concludes with an invitation to cultivate epistemic humility and adopt an engaged and activist stance, a posture of self-disempowerment, or a combination of these approaches, in order to break away from practices that perpetuate epistemic injustices and Neurodiversity Lite.

For your information:

(1) References in blue are resources listed on our site.

(2) Authors listed in this bibliography whose names are in color have published other resources referenced on the site. Clicking on the name allows you to see the list of resources they have published and shared on the site.

(3) Authors whose names are followed by an asterisk have publicly disclosed being autistic.

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