Seeking Social Connection and Knowledge as a Minimally Verbal Autistic Male with Intellectual Disability

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Khan, A. & Caldwell‐Harris, C. L. (2024). Seeking Social Connection and Knowledge as a Minimally Verbal Autistic Male with Intellectual Disability [Preprint]. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202403.0338.v1

Publication date: 6 Mar 2024 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Preprint Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Aysha Khan
  2. Catherine L. Caldwell‐Harris *

Abstract

We bring a strength-based and socially-oriented lens to behaviors observed in profound autism. Social deficits are a defining characteristic of autism. Yet humans’ biological drive for social connection is sufficiently strong that is should be observable, in some form at least, in individuals with autism. We describe a case that validates this view. Mahad is a 20-year-old Pakistani-American male, with intellectual disability, and minimal verbal abilities. Mahad has an intense interest in food and the steps involved in food preparation. He employs and capitalizes on his family’s meal routines to ensure continual social attention from his mother. When not immersed in food, Mahad uses his limited capacities to pursue the additional biological needs of exploring his environment, seeking information, and developing his cognitive abilities.

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Cited references
38
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
10 / 38 (26.3%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
13 / 127 (10.2%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 13 / 50 (26.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 6 / 116 (5.2%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
50 / 127 (39.4%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 40 / 116 (34.5%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
37 / 50 (74.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 37 / 127 (29.1%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 34 / 40 (85.0%).
2 cited bibliography entries could not be fully enriched from DOI metadata.
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