Research Article
Narrating Autism: Autistic Presence and Voice on the internet in Indonesia
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.16-10-2019.2304297, author={Hersinta Hersinta}, title={Narrating Autism: Autistic Presence and Voice on the internet in Indonesia}, proceedings={Procedings of the 1st ICA Regional Conference, ICA 2019, October 16-17 2019, Bali, Indonesia}, publisher={EAI}, proceedings_a={ICA}, year={2021}, month={2}, keywords={autism; disability; internet; neurodiversity; online self-advocacy}, doi={10.4108/eai.16-10-2019.2304297} }- Hersinta Hersinta
Year: 2021
Narrating Autism: Autistic Presence and Voice on the internet in Indonesia
ICA
EAI
DOI: 10.4108/eai.16-10-2019.2304297
Abstract
Autism, is a relatively ‘current’ concept in Indonesia, with the public awareness about autism in Indonesia only began emerging in 2000 and was particularly prevalent through online media. Today, the internet has become a recognized medium for self-narrative and self-expression for this group. Autistic people have participated online in a number of formats including autobiographical blogs, video awareness campaigns on YouTube, and through efforts to build online communities by utilizing social media. This paper will discuss the rise of autistic online presence in Indonesia by conducting in-depth interviews with five autistic persons in Indonesia. Data drawn from the interviews investigates the main questions for this research: (1) how they utilize social media to provide a self-narrative and as a tool for doing self-advocacy; and (2) how the internet could provide different ways of understanding autism. Results indicate that social media acts as an embedded media for autistics, as they are using it extensively in daily activities, as well as a mediated tool for self-advocating and communicating their narratives.