Paper short abstract:

Autistic migrants encounter challenges navigating the UK’s migration and healthcare systems, facing cultural barriers and insufficient support. This research examines the intersection of autism and migration, highlighting overlooked experiences and proposing pathways for more inclusive systems.

Paper long abstract:

Imagine an autistic migrant navigating the UK’s healthcare and immigration systems. Arriving from a non-Western country in search of a better life and a sense of belonging, they encounter not only cultural and linguistic barriers but also the challenge of seeking an autism diagnosis in a system often unprepared to address their intersecting needs. The dual burden of being labelled as both a migrant and autistic creates a complex experience of multiple otherness, bringing moments of unexpected insight as well as disadvantages. These layered struggles highlight the unique experiences of autistic migrants, a group often overlooked in social sciences research.

With 280 million international migrants worldwide and a notable rise in adult autism diagnoses across the Western world, there is an urgent need to explore the intersection of these identities. Despite the extensive literature on migration and autism separately, little attention has been given to autistic migrants, particularly regarding how the categories of “migrant” and “autistic” are constructed and affect life experiences across communities, migration, and medical settings.

Rooted in medical anthropology, sociology, and empirical ethics, this research draws on decolonial feminist theorists María Lugones and Mariana Ortega. By embracing multilayered subjectivities, the paper interrogates the ethical, social, and political implications of categorisation and provides practical recommendations for more inclusive healthcare and migration systems. Ultimately, the research seeks to contribute to a nuanced understanding of marginalised populations' health and well-being in an era of globalisation and rising social intolerance, drawing inspiration from philosophies of the Global South.