We often draw on the concept of ‘autistic space’1, a concept that developed in the autistic community over time. Autistic space is any virtual or real-world space that is:
- Shared by several autistic people
- Designed or adapted for autistic processing; values autistic ways of functioning
- Designed and controlled by autistic people
- By and for autistic people where autistic needs and culture take priority
- Being and acting autistic is acceptable and accepted
In autistic space there is an increased probability of autistic people meeting similar and/or compatible people. Non-autistic people can feel socially disabled, disorientated and even, out of place, in autistic space. It is important to note, however, that autistic space does not magically remove all difficulties: autistic people are not just different from non-autistic people but also different from each other, and there will still be incompatibilities. Nevertheless, time spent in autistic space can be:
- Empowering
- Relaxing
- Provide a sense of community and belonging
- Enable the sharing of rare or less common experiences and interests
- Allow for experiences of feeling less disabled than in non-autistic space
A number of specific differences are observable between autistic space and non-autistic space. Common features which often arise in autistic space include:
- Non-spoken forms of communication are respected and used at least as commonly as speech and there is parity of esteem between different forms of communication
- Sensory sensitivities are respected and the space is more likely to be lower in sensory stimulus e.g. less bright, quieter, less movement
- Choices not to communicate or not to interact are respected and participants are valued whether or not they choose to interact
- There is lower pressure towards conformity
- Communication contains greater informational content
- Participants are valued for their knowledge and contribution, rather than social status being accorded on the basis of aspects of presentation
- Social and communication errors and missteps are more likely to be explained and blame avoided, particularly on the first occasion
- The TV shows ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Big Bang Theory’ are considered ‘normal’ cultural knowledge by many (though not all) and having no idea who a celebrity is would be perfectly normal
- Spilling food all down your clothes and tripping over your own feet is considered perfectly normal
- It is normal to forewarn others about all changes, do exactly what you say you are going to do and provide detailed information about expectations
- It is socially acceptable to ask direct questions such as ‘Why?’, ‘What’s the point?’, ‘Can I join your group?’ or ‘Do you want to be friends?’ and expect an honest, direct answer
- It is considered unreasonable to expect someone else to know what you think or how you feel without telling them
1 See Dekker (2015) for a history of early autistic space, the core ideas of the definition given here and more depth about the concept.