Journal Article (Qualitative Study).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-025-06812-0
After reading Tourism and Neurodiversity: A Problematisation and Research Agenda (Jepson et al., 2023), I realised that many discussions surrounding travel focus on families and children rather than autistic adults themselves. As I am becoming increasingly interested in independent international travel, I wanted to understand better what independence actually means from the perspective of autistic adults before continuing with tourism research.
This qualitative study explores how autistic adults define and experience independence. Rather than measuring independence through traditional milestones such as employment or living arrangements, the authors question whether these neurotypical definitions truly reflect autistic experiences. This immediately stood out to me because it challenges assumptions that I had not previously questioned.
One of the most interesting arguments presented within the paper is that independence has historically been defined from a neurotypical perspective. Traditional measures often focus on completing daily living tasks, living alone, having a job or becoming financially independent. However, the authors argue that these definitions fail to recognise the different ways autistic adults may understand and experience independence.
I also found it particularly interesting that the paper distinguishes between "independence" and "independent living." Although these ideas are often used interchangeably, the authors suggest that autistic adults may experience independence regardless of whether they live alone or require support.
Although this paper is not directly related to tourism, it provides an important foundation for my project.
If I am interested in independent international travel, I first need to understand what independence means from the perspective of autistic adults themselves. Without this understanding, it would be easy to make assumptions based on neurotypical definitions of independence.
This paper also raises an interesting question for future research. If tourism often promotes ideas such as freedom, independence and self-discovery, do autistic adults experience these ideas differently? This area has received very little attention and could become an important direction in my own research.