Presenting Autism from an Autistic Perspective: An Extended Case Study of a Collaborative Autistic-and non-Autistic Initiative in France

In this article, we use an anthropological lens to advocate for the inclusion of autistic people in autism educational initiatives in France. We do this through an ethnographic analysis of one specific educational presentation about autism given at the University of Toulouse in Toulouse, France, in January 2022. The presentation was created and delivered by two autistic students in collaboration with the director of disability services. The presentation was the first of its kind at the university, and possibly in France. Our anthropological framework also shows the importance of understanding local cultural context. By applying an anthropological point of view to this case, we also show how educational initiatives developed collaboratively by autistic and non-autistic people lead to better outcomes.