A recent research paper on Autistic Flourishing, recommends five shifts to support this to happen:
- From Health to Well-Being: Instead of focusing solely on physical and mental health, the broader concept of well-being should be considered. This perspective acknowledges the importance of social and environmental factors in shaping disability.
- From Other-Defined to Self-Defined: The definition of a good life for Autistic individuals should primarily be determined by Autistic people themselves, moving away from normative life achievements.
- From the Big to the Small: Pay attention to the everyday concerns that make up the fabric of an Autistic person’s life, shifting from abstract, grand theories to practical, real-life experiences.
- From the Individual to the “Individual-in-Context”: Emphasize the role of the broader context in creating opportunities and challenges for Autistic individuals, understanding that difficulties are not solely inherent to the individual.
- From Researcher-Led to Autistic-Led: Autistic people and their allies should be actively involved in shaping the research agenda, from decision-making to interpretation of findings.