A Spectrum of Experience: Perspectives on Autism from Moshi, Tanzania

Abstract

There are two ways of viewing autism: as an affliction, or as an identity. The first, biomedical perspective is most common, but communities of self-advocates are lobbying for a more socio-cultural approach, arguing for the societal recognition and celebration of “neurodiversity.” The limited research on autism outside of a western context is almost exclusively epidemiological, assuming ignorance on the part of least developed countries in addressing issues of disability. This paper explores the lived experience of autism in Moshi, Tanzania through a 2.5 month multi-sited ethnographic study to identify and validate socio-cultural perspectives of autism and to determine whether a parallel concept to neurodiversity might exist, arguing that Tanzania’s lack of medical infrastructure and social supports may be advantageous in creating the conditions for acceptance of neurodiversity, and suggesting that this potential may be harnessed by increasing the visibility of autism through informal social channels such as media and religion.