| Abstract |
Discourse related to autism studies are multidisciplinary, applied, and extensive. Pulling from multiple disciplines and calling for interdisciplinary collaborations, I begin to construct a review of research relevant to move toward a sociology of autism and neurodiversity. I argue that sociology is positioned to utilize its epistemological and phenological strengths to provide insight as well as fill in gaps in the literature related to autism studies. I address controversies and provide structural context to the sociocultural history of the autism and neurodiversity. From Kanner and Asperger through to the DSM-5, I outline the evolution and social construction of autism and identify sociological programs of scholarship that continue to shape (and be shaped) by understanding autism and neurodiversity. Using theoretical contributions rooted in social psychological principles of symbolic interaction, such as mind, self, solidarity, and stigma-I address how sociology is shaping scholarship related to autism and address interdisciplinary critiques of these programs. I highlight how the next generation of scholars are formulating the cutting-edge issues for the future of research within these areas and emphasize that research programs should center work on improving the lived experiences of those on the spectrum.
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