Autisme als meerduidig en politiek fenomeen: een disability studies perspectief

In clinical practice and research, we often explain what autism is by using several definite and seemingly neutral sentences. However, can we know what autism is in a truly objective sense? Is it moreover justified to put forward persistently the medical-clinical perspective as an explanation? To answer these questions, we first look at the interdisciplinary field of Disability Studies, paying special attention to the concept of neurodiversity. Drawing on that field and its insights, we do not only unravel the multiple meanings of autism, but we also make an argument for an urgent understanding of autism as an ambiguous and political phenomenon. This understanding implies thinking autism in contextual and relational concepts and recognizing the mutability of the phenomenon. Furthermore, by drawing on concrete examples, we demonstrate why an ambiguous and political understanding of autism is urgent, both in individual trajectories as in thinking about early autism detection and intervention. Finally, we conclude our article by arguing for an attitude of epistemic humility. We also offer some suggestions on how to implement ambiguity and political understanding of autism in a clinical and research context.