The Dynamics of Autistic-Academic Partnerships

Authors

Dora Raymaker, Portland State UniversityFollow
Christina Nicolaidis, Portland State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

9-1-2010

Subjects

Autism spectrum disorders, Autism spectrum disorders -- Research, Autistic people -- Services for, Autism -- Research

Abstract

Traditionally, research about autistics has been developed without autistics, leading to systemic problems that reinforce stereotypes and divide communities. Some academics find the idea of autistics contributing meaningfully to research unthinkable, while the autistic community is often angered by research which holds no potential benefit, or is even directly harmful, to community aims. Problematic dynamics between academics and minority populations are neither new nor specific to autism research. Research approaches involving academic-community partnerships can change these dynamics to benefit all partners. Academic-community partnerships empower minorities to execute research relevant to community priorities and enable academics to perform high-quality, ethical science. Both formal and informal autistic-academic partnerships are now emerging on the cutting edge of autism research. This paper describes these research approaches and explores how they might change the perception of autistics in science and society.

Description

Presented at the Critical Autism Studies Workshop, Ottawa, Canada, September 2010. © 2010 Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership In Research and Education

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/9507

Citation Details

Raymaker, D.M., & Nicolaidis, C. (2010, September). The dynamics of autistic-academic partnerships. Presented at the Critical Autism Studies Workshop, Ottawa, Canada.