The Story of Autism in a Former Communist Country: An Example of Historical Sociological Research on the Condition

This presentation draws on historical sociological research on autism in the Czech Republic, conducted by the author. The research examines how conditions and opportunities for people on the autism spectrum in the country have... [ view full abstract ]

This presentation draws on historical sociological research on autism in the Czech Republic, conducted by the author. The research examines how conditions and opportunities for people on the autism spectrum in the country have changed since the beginning of the 1990s in light of the development of knowledge, services and the institutional network of autism. The condition wasn't officially acknowledged in Czechoslovakia before the fall of Communism in 1989; there were no specialised services, the vast majority of doctors, psychologists, SEN teachers and other experts weren't familiar with the condition and there was no public awareness of autism. Due to censorship during the Communist regime, information on autism was simply not available. The situation has changed significantly since then. The author has studied the development of the services available, autism advocacy, individual life stories of people on the autism spectrum, expert knowledge and public awareness of autism. As well as other methods, the research included 35 in depth interviews conducted with people on the autism spectrum, their parents and experts from various fields, strictly following high ethical standards and obtaining informed concerns from all participants. The main aims of the presentation are to provide an example of how to study the conditions for people on the autism spectrum in the particular country and region where they live, with consideration paid to wider social and historical processes, as well as to show how people on the autism spectrum and their families could benefit from such studies.