Today’s episode presents a critical comparison between two distinct approaches to autism research, symbolised by two institutions located near Cambridge, England. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, contrasts the GRRAND study, which is highlighted for its collaborative methodology, prioritising the voices of neurodivergent adolescents to understand emotional life and regulation within the context of their environment and relationships. This is set against the legacy of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) and its associated theories—such as Theory of Mind and Extreme Male Brain—which Dr. Hoerricks argues historically framed autistic people as deficits to be measured, categorised, and corrected from an external perspective. The core argument is that the future of autism research must pivot away from models focused on “decoding” or “normalising” autistic behaviour and toward partnership models that treat autistic individuals as “epistemic agents”—knowers whose lived experience is central to defining what autism is and what support truly entails. She emphasises that research findings are consequential, shaping everything from educational plans to therapeutic practices, and that a focus on dignity, autonomy, and context is necessary to replace outdated, behaviourist-aligned frameworks.

Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/two-roads-through-the-same-countryside

Let me know what you think.

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