An Instagram Content Analysis: Investigating the Autisticats

Abstract

<p>This study is a content analysis of the Instagram group The Autisticats. The group creates posts regarding autistic experiences by autistic people. It is a public group that has created a learning and sharing community between autistic and non-autistic people. A literature review investigating how autism has been shaped by society yielded themes regarding norms, intervention, culture, and community. This study identifies and analyzes the dominant autistic narratives and counternarratives proposed by the Autisticats and how these narratives shape autistic experiences. The Autisticats have created a space for autistic voices to be heard, and this research is intended to amplify the group’s reach by highlighting their counternarratives. This study identified themes and counternarrative such as, autistic behaviours are human behaviours, treatment versus support, advocacy and reframing autism. The themes were presented to followers in various types of posts such as, informational, opinion, personal experiences, multimodality, and calls to action.</p>