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Autistic culture?

Music Therapist
over 7 years ago

Hi all, I'm a Music Therapist working for the NHS and am Chief Editor of a book called "A Spectrum of Approaches: Music Therapy and Autism Across the Lifespan." I'm writing a chapter on the idea of seeing autism in cultural terms, not just diagnostic and would love contributions from people on the spectrum and their families and carers. Is there such as thing as "autistic culture" as separate from "neurotypical"? How is this manifest in terms of self-identity, the arts, and fitting in with others. If anyone would like to make some comments here, or get in touch with me via [email address removed by moderator] If possible, I'd love to include some comments in my chapter.

Many thanks,

Henry

Please note email address removed by moderator as no personal contact details are allowed on the forum.  Many thanks, Heather - Mod

Parents
  • over 7 years ago

    Thanks for your considered reply. Apologies firstly for the mispelling, not sure how that got past my internal editor, as I'm normally very careful. Apologies also if the questions were too vague. The answers you give are very much what I was looking for, even if I didn't phrase the questions properly. I find your ideas on self-identity very interesting. There will be a chapter on that concept, and the idea of "self-realisation". I personally have a strong sense of identity, but with many facets including (but not limited to) musician, therapist, father, son, husband, Christian, friend, lover of the arts, etc etc. However, there is a difference between how I perceive my identity and how others perceive it. This can be according to my role in that person's life - for a client I am a therapist and they know little about the other aspects of my identity. It also depends on which mask/camouflage I choose to wear. I love your thoughts about music being a bridge to finding unselfconscious being, and seeing beyond the mask to connection. I also appreciate that autism can be commodified - we can talk about "autistic art", "autistic music" and so on, without appreciating the uniqueness of the individual. The danger of forming any culture/community is that it can homogenise even though it aims to celebrate diversity.

    Many thanks again for your comments and your permssion to use them.

Reply
  • over 7 years ago

    Thanks for your considered reply. Apologies firstly for the mispelling, not sure how that got past my internal editor, as I'm normally very careful. Apologies also if the questions were too vague. The answers you give are very much what I was looking for, even if I didn't phrase the questions properly. I find your ideas on self-identity very interesting. There will be a chapter on that concept, and the idea of "self-realisation". I personally have a strong sense of identity, but with many facets including (but not limited to) musician, therapist, father, son, husband, Christian, friend, lover of the arts, etc etc. However, there is a difference between how I perceive my identity and how others perceive it. This can be according to my role in that person's life - for a client I am a therapist and they know little about the other aspects of my identity. It also depends on which mask/camouflage I choose to wear. I love your thoughts about music being a bridge to finding unselfconscious being, and seeing beyond the mask to connection. I also appreciate that autism can be commodified - we can talk about "autistic art", "autistic music" and so on, without appreciating the uniqueness of the individual. The danger of forming any culture/community is that it can homogenise even though it aims to celebrate diversity.

    Many thanks again for your comments and your permssion to use them.

Children
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