The Infantilization of Autism. Do Autistic Adults Receive Less Assistance and Representation Than Autistic Children?

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2017 in the subject Psychology - General, grade: 4.0, , course: Research Methods in Psychology, language: English, abstract: This study collected information from 115 autistic and parents of autistic adolescents and adults regarding their experiences with being represented and treated respectfully in a neurotypical-based society. A neurotypical is defined as any individual who is not characterized as autistic or having any other neurological or developmental disorders or disabilities.

This study looked to investigate the hypothesis that autistic adolescents and adults receive significantly less accommodation and representation as compared overall with autistic children, and that this discrepancy can be attributed to neurotypical perceptions and treatment of autistic individuals. The findings overall supported this hypothesis and attributed the lack of accommodations with society's infantilization of autism. Infantilization is the act of treating someone or something in a condescending or differed way, as if they were a child incapable of higher thought or ability. This infantilization of autism is often perpetuated further by neurotypical peers and even parents if autistic children, causing a misrepresentation for older autistic adolescents and adults.