Exploring meanings of leisure among people with autism: “To have some fun on your own”

ABSTRACT

This article explores how meanings of leisure are formulated among people with autism in relation to different notions of autism and leisure. The analysis is based on a discursive psychological analysis of articles in the Swedish magazine Empowerment (2002–2009), which was produced by and aimed at adults with autism. In relation to deficit notions of autistic special interests, the articles in the magazine formulated an alternative discourse that stressed the possibilities for meaningful leisure for people with autism, enabled by the right support, and on the continuum of leisure activities of non-autistic people. Central in the formulation of this ideal of meaningful leisure is its conditionality; by being socially functional or productive; as both self-developing and socially constructive.

KEYWORDS:

• Autism
• leisure
• special interest
• self-advocacy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.