Exploring the potential for social networking among people with autism: challenging dominant ideas of ‘friendship’

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Brownlow, C., Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, H., & O’Dell, L. (2013). Exploring the potential for social networking among people with autism: challenging dominant ideas of ‘friendship’. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 17(2), 188-193. https://doi.org/10.1080/15017419.2013.859174

Publication date: 22 Nov 2013 Added to AutiHub: 4 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)
  1. Charlotte Brownlow
  2. Hanna Bertilsdotter Rosqvist *
  3. Lindsay O’Dell

Abstract

Within dominant approaches to autism and relationships, people with autism are assumed to be either unable to form relationships or are in need for educational interventions to be better equipped at managing relationships in a social world dominated by non-autistic people (neurotypicals). In this paper, we argue that broader constructions of friendship are needed in order to best account for the desire and abilities of high-functioning people with autism to have satisfying friendships and that the engagement with online social networking may provide a useful tool in achieving this.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
25
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
2 / 25 (8.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
2 / 52 (3.8%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 2 / 8 (25.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 2 / 49 (4.1%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
8 / 52 (15.4%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 8 / 49 (16.3%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
6 / 8 (75.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 6 / 52 (11.5%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 6 / 8 (75.0%).
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