Defining Autistic Flourishing: Exploring Lived Experiences through a Neurodivergent Lens

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. five authors of this publication are identified as autistic in the project.

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Hedlund, Å., Lindström, T., Bölte, S., Black, M. H., Hirvikoski, T., Isakson, K., Unéus, D., Ingard, C., Wik, J., & Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, H. (2026). Defining Autistic Flourishing: Exploring Lived Experiences through a Neurodivergent Lens. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581261462070

Journal or book title
Autism in Adulthood
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Article number
25739581261462070
Publication date: 11 Jul 2026 Added to AutiHub: 14 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) OpenAlex source

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
10
Publication authors identified as autistic
5 / 10 (50.0%)
  1. Åsa Hedlund *
  2. Therese Lindström
  3. Sven Bölte
  4. Melissa H. Black
  5. Tatja Hirvikoski
  1. Kajsa Isakson *
  2. Danielle Unéus *
  3. Cecilia Ingard *
  4. Jonas Wik
  5. Hannah Bertilsdotter Rosqvist *

Abstract

Background: Autism has historically been conceptualized in ways that exclude the possibility of flourishing or a “good life.” However, shifts in our understanding of autism, alongside a more recent discourse driven primarily by the voices of autistic people, have highlighted that many autistic people can flourish according to their subjectively determined standards. The application of neuronormative ideas of what it means to live a good life is increasingly challenged. This study, led by neurodivergent researchers, examines autistic flourishing from the perspective of autistic adults. Methods: This co-produced phenomenological study sought to explore autistic perspectives on flourishing. We interviewed a total of 29 autistic adults one to four times each, either through focus groups, individual oral interviews, or written responses. We analyzed the interview data using qualitative reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Participants described their definitions of flourishing, both short and long terms. They included personal growth, connection, and self-determination, as well as opportunities for experiencing pleasure. Based on the insights of autistic adults, we understand autistic flourishing as a dynamic phenomenon that unites long-term growth and autonomy with short-term experiences of mental, physical, or holistic enjoyment. Conclusion: Autistic flourishing means engaging with the world in one’s own autistic way, not adapting to neuronormative standards. It should not be conflated with neurotypical flourishing, as this weakens its meaning. It should be explored how support can nurture autistic ways of being, rather than push for conformity with neuronormative expectations.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 11:55.

Cited references
50
With a DOI
48
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
2
16 / 50 (32.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
1 / 50 (2.0%)
References with detected author names
49 / 50 (98.0%)
Without detected author names
1
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
2
References with raw author names still to review
1
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
162
From DOI or external metadata
162
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
1
87 / 162 (53.7%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 75 / 162 (46.3%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
35 / 162 (21.6%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 35 / 87 (40.2%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 28 / 149 (18.8%).
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