From Margins to Mainstream: The Evolving Politics of Autistic Identity

The Surge in Autism Recognition: Understanding the Numbers

It’s quite difficult to not be aware that the landscape of autism recognition has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, particularly among adult populations. We know that this shift isn't just a matter of improved diagnostic practices; it's a profound societal and political awakening that challenges long-held assumptions about neurodiversity. As we explore this evolving understanding, it's crucial to acknowledge that many of us in the mental health field, including some reading this, may be autistic ourselves or questioning our neurodiversity.

Over the past two decades, we've witnessed an astounding 800% increase in autism recognition. This surge isn't merely due to increased prevalence but reflects a seismic shift in our collective understanding of autism. Historically, autism was primarily associated with observable behaviors in children, often focusing on stereotypical presentations popularized by media or limited to specific demographic groups, such as White Cis males. However, autistic individuals themselves have revealed that autism is fundamentally an internal experience, not always readily apparent from the outside. And not something that should be defined from the outside, either.

Historical Barriers to Autistic Self-Recognition

There is the obvious crucial question: why didn't we know before? The answer lies in a complex interplay of societal, medical, and political factors. For decades, the medical model of autism dominated, focusing on deficits and observable behaviors rather than internal experiences. This narrow view led to the overlooking of countless autistic individuals, particularly women, gender-diverse people, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds. The societal pressure to conform, or "mask," also played a significant role in keeping many autistic people hidden, even from themselves. Whether they knew or not that they were autistic they camouflaged as strategies to survive and thrive.

Online Awakening: Web-Based Platforms and Autistic Awareness

The rise of the internet and social media has been a game-changer in autistic self-recognition, hasn’t it? Online platforms have provided unprecedented opportunities for autistic individuals to connect, share experiences, and build communities. This digital revolution has given rise to a chorus of autistic voices, offering firsthand accounts of everyday life and challenging long-held stereotypes. The discussion groups on Facebook, the blogs published on both personal webpages and websites of institutions, and videos, videos, videos. For many, encountering autistic people telling stories of everyday autistic life, it marks the beginning of a profound journey of self-recognition and acceptance.

Autism Recognition as Systemic Critique

However, this surge in recognition also exposes deep-seated political issues. The fact that so many people went unrecognised for so long dramatically points to systemic failures in our educational, medical, and social systems. It highlights how societal structures, particularly within neoliberal capitalist frameworks, can disproportionately impact neurodivergent individuals. As my colleague and co-trainer at Vanguard Neurodiversity Trainin, Eoin Stephens, said to me, "The more rigidly the Western world goes into the neoliberal capitalist sort of model, the harder and harder it gets for a lot of people now, not just neurodivergent people." You can see the full discussion we had on this 45-min video.

We now live in a time where the political dimensions of autistic identity are recognised, and becoming more so day-by-day. Moreover, the neurodiversity movement has quickly aligned itself with other identity politics movements, recognising the intersectionality of various marginalised identities. This alignment with broader social justice movements has led to increased advocacy for autistic rights and challenges to societal structures that have long marginalised neurodivergent individuals.

The Price of Passing: The Impact of Autistic Camouflaging

The concept of "masking" or "camouflaging" is intricately linked to the politics of autistic identity. As Eoin and I discussed in the aforementioned talk, we agreed that masking includes components of internalised ableism and internalised stigmatisation. It's not just the sense of 'I know who I am, but I'm pretending to keep myself safe.' It means you are actually incorporating some of the very oppression that you're experiencing. This insight highlights how societal pressures and discrimination can shape autistic experiences and self-perception, and even shape the personal construct of self (to oneself and others).

Language Matters: The Shift from Person-First to Identity-First

The language we use to discuss autism plays a crucial role in this political awakening. The shift from person-first language ("person with autism") to identity-first language ("autistic person") reflects a broader movement towards embracing autism as a core aspect of identity rather than a separate condition. This linguistic shift is more than mere semantics; it represents a fundamental reimagining of what it means to be autistic.

A Call to Action: Rethinking Therapy in the Age of Autistic Self-Advocacy

As therapists, we really ought to recognise the political nature of our work with autistic clients. It's been clear for a long time that it's not possible to seriously work with the struggles of people in the LGBTQ community without having a lot of political awareness around it, hasn’t it? Well, can you see that the same is increasingly true for autism? We need to understand the broader societal context in which our autistic clients live and the systemic barriers they face in order to actually be able to understand the person who sits with us as our client.

In conclusion, the surge in autism recognition represents more than just improved identification; it's a political and social revolution. It challenges us to rethink our approaches, and has the potential to collectively push us therapists, -  all therapists - towards more collaborative and affirming practices that recognise the political and social dimensions of autism if we listen to autistic voices. And especially to autistic therapists who are devoting hours and hours each week, and for years, so they understand and are able to unpack this malfeasance and figure out the what and how of repair of damages. So, as the therapy world navigates this new terrain, I ask that we remain open to learning and growth, recognising that we are all, in many ways, "building the new bridge as we cross it" in this evolving understanding of autistic identity.

Vauna Beauvais. Autistic psychotherapist and ADHD-er.

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