The AutSide
The AutSide Podcast
Episode 77: The Double Empathy Problem in Research
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Episode 77: The Double Empathy Problem in Research

Today’s episode critiques autism research that uses a deficit model, focusing on a study examining autistic children’s responses to “cute” stimuli. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks argues this approach wrongly frames autistic traits as deficits compared to the norms of the neuro-majority, ignoring the “Double Empathy Problem”—mutual misunderstandings between neurotypes. Dr. Hoerricks advocates for research prioritising autistic perspectives and addressing real-world needs, such as accessible housing and healthcare, instead of perpetuating harmful stereotypes. They call for a shift from a deficit-based model to one that celebrates neurodiversity and centers autistic voices in research design and interpretation. Ultimately, they champion research that improves autistic lives and fosters inclusion.

Here’s a link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/they-dont-get-us-how-autism-research

Let me know what you think.

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