Quirky kids: fathers’ stories of embracing diversity and dismantling expectations for normative play with their children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Anchored in critical disability studies, we used a narrative methodology to study fathers’ stories of play interactions with their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Three narratives convey how father–child interactions unfold and how patterns of interaction respond to, redefine and resist societal norms. Narratives of action demonstrate fathers’ responses to societal norms, while narratives of adjustment depict how fathers have redefined expectations of their children in the context of play. Narratives of acceptance demonstrate fathers’ attunement to, and acceptance of, their children’s preferred play interests and a resistance to play norms. We argue that fathers’ stories represent a step towards emancipating play for children with ASD in that fathers’ appreciation of their children’s quirky play accentuates the relational and social capabilities of children, thus countering deficit interpretations of the abilities of children with autism more broadly.

Keywords:

• Fathering
• autism spectrum disorder
• play
• critical disability studies
• narrative

Notes

1. We use both children with ASD or autistic children. This is to reflect and respect the preference for ‘autistic’ – preferred by many autistic people – as well as include how fathers referred to their children (they use both) and to reflect the commonly referred term in the literature and in academic circles (children with ASD).

2. To enhance conciseness of presentation, the children named are diagnosed with ASD unless otherwise specified.