ABSTRACT
Developmental psychology and other disciplines make assumptions about the ‘normal’ child and their trajectory through time. The assumed normative development sets up particular expectations about autistic children and adults through concepts such as theory of mind, the assumed impairments in social connectedness and friendships, and alignment with a particular gender identity. This chapter will critique these three key developmental tasks, discuss concepts in exploring and challenging dominant narratives, and draw on the intersectionality between different aspects of identity, such as gender identity, and consider how the autistic individual is positioned within these dominant discourses.
Keywords: theory of mind, friendship, gender identity
