On this page you will find a variety of resources to do with the history of Autism, a developmental disability that can cause a range of behavioural differences including significant social, communication, and behavioural challenges.
You may also want to look at our page for learning disabilities as although autism is not a learning disability itself, around half of people with the condition also have a learning disability.
A History of Autism: conversations with the pioneers by
This unique book is the first to fully explore the history of autism - from the first descriptions of autistic-type behaviour to the present day. Features in-depth discussions with leading professionals and pioneers to provide an unprecedented insight into the historical changes in the perception of autism and approaches to it Presents carefully chosen case studies and the latest findings in the field Includes evidence from many previously unpublished documents and illustrations Interviews with parents of autistic children acknowledge the important contribution they have made to a more profound understanding of this enigmatic condition
Autism in History : the case of Hugh Blair of Borgue by
This engaging story of an eighteenth century Scottish laird whose brief arranged marriage was annulled on the grounds of his mental capacity - which seen through modern eyes can be identified as autism. It is a story of villainy and innocence, and provides a fascinating historical context to which the latest theories on autism are applied.
The Metamorphosis of Autism by
This book is available as an open access ebook under a CC-BY-NC-ND licence. What is autism and where has it come from? Increased diagnostic rates, the rise of the 'neurodiversity' movement, and growing autism journalism, have recently fuelled autism's fame and controversy. The metamorphosis of autism is the first book to explain our current fascination with autism by linking it to a longer history of childhood development. Drawing from a staggering array of primary sources, Bonnie Evans traces autism back to its origins in the early twentieth century and explains why the idea of autism has always been controversial and why it experienced a 'metamorphosis' in the 1960s and 1970s. Evans takes the reader on a journey of discovery from the ill-managed wards of 'mental deficiency' hospitals, to high-powered debates in the houses of parliament, and beyond. The book will appeal to a wide market of scholars and others interested in autism.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of some terms related to autistism and the general time periods they might be used in. Bear in mind that it is difficult to identify disabilities and other conditions from historical sources and it is often better to examine the symptoms themselves rather than rely on the diagnoses of the past.
Pre-contemporary
Contemporary
