Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / Defending Identity and Diversity: the Potential of Cultural Anthropology for Reshaping Autism

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Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2018 11 (12)
Authors
Gokh, Anatolii F.; Mineev, Valerii V.; Viktoruk, Elena N.
Contact information
Gokh, Anatolii F.: Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V.P. Astafyev 89 Ada Lebedeva Str., Krasnoyarsk, 660049, Russia; ; Mineev, Valerii V.: Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V.P. Astafyev 89 Ada Lebedeva Str., Krasnoyarsk, 660049, Russia; ; Viktoruk, Elena N.: Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V.P. Astafyev 89 Ada Lebedeva Str., Krasnoyarsk, 660049, Russia;
Keywords
autistic culture; autistic community; cultural identity; social inclusion; diversity; the nature-culture divide
Abstract

This article focuses on the concept of autistic culture as a tool for providing autistic persons’ integration into society and for empowering an autistic community. A multitude of people with autism were observed and asked questions to explore the relationship between their neurodivergents’ collective identity and their ability to successfully integrate into society. Various pools of caregivers and professionals were also inquired to get an insight into their attitudes to the inclusion policy and to the upsurge of autistic culture. The survey performed in 2012–2018 revealed that autistic culture has started spreading into Siberian region, and a recognition of this phenomenon has already begun to progress in the city of Krasnoyarsk. Moreover, the research also showed that autistic people’s awareness of own identity and diversity as cultural attributes, as a matter of fact, facilitated increased inclusion. Given these results and premises, a construct of autistic culture is elaborated and, respectively, a reshaping of the main signs of autism in terms of cultural anthropology is tried, with relevance of philosophical anthropology and phenomenology being highlighted. The objective and the scope of the article are consistent with the social policy designed for the diversity to be openly embraced and for people with special health needs as well as their families to enjoy a deep involvement

Pages
1947-1961
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/109229

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