Member-only story

Autistic Life Experiences in Japan: A European Perspective

A recent academic study reveals unique cultural influences and common challenges.

@Tistje
6 min readMay 24, 2024
Photo by Lin Mei on Unsplash

Introduction

Autism research has largely been concentrated in Western countries, leaving a significant gap in understanding how autistic individuals in East Asian cultures experience their lives.

A recent study by N Harada, E Pellicano and more, focusing on the life experiences of late-diagnosed autistic adults in Japan sheds light on this issue, revealing unique cultural influences and common challenges faced by autistic individuals worldwide.

By conducting semi-structured interviews with seven Japanese adults diagnosed with autism in their twenties and thirties, researchers gained insights into their experiences from childhood to adulthood.

Key themes that emerged include: feeling different and misunderstood, the impact of the diagnosis, and a strong desire for acceptance.

Key themes that emerged include: feeling different and misunderstood, the impact of the diagnosis, and a strong desire for acceptance. All participants faced significant challenges, such as bullying at school…

Create an account to read the full story.

The author made this story available to Medium members only.
If you’re new to Medium, create a new account to read this story on us.

Or, continue in mobile web

Already have an account? Sign in

@Tistje
@Tistje

Written by @Tistje

Ervaringswerker autisme / Autistic Advocate / Autism Ambassador

No responses yet

Write a response