ABSTRACT

This innovative book places the sensory experiences of autistic individuals within a sociological framework. It instigates new discussions around sensory experience, autism and how disability and ability can be reconceived.

Autism is commonly understood to involve social and communication difficulties. Less commented upon is the sensory challenges faced by those with autism. Sociology is no different, focusing on communication and neglecting the sensory dimensions of experience. Sensory experiences and relations are central to how we understand and navigate through the natural and social worlds, and mediate our interactions with other people, objects and spaces. In this book, the author explores how these processes are affected by the favourite activities of autistic people.

With real-life case studies and cutting-edge research, this book will be useful to students, autistic people, advocates and carers, disability studies researchers and sociologies of disability and the senses.

chapter 1|21 pages

Introduction

Exploring autism, the senses and autoethnography

chapter 3|22 pages

Habitual favourites

Modulated thresholds and quasi-objects

chapter 4|23 pages

An auto/autieethnography part 1

Methodological and researcher positionality

chapter 4.5|13 pages

An auto/autieethnography part 1.5

Distributed sociality and post-human disability

chapter 5|29 pages

An auto/autieethnography part 2

Autoethnographic writing vignettes

chapter 6|25 pages

Affective atmospheres

Perturbations and emplaced affects