Risks of Stigmatisation Resulting from Assistive Technologies for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Assistive technologies (ATs) are currently being developed for cohorts of vulnerable people, including persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This paper focuses on the risks that the development of ATs for persons with ASD might lead to increased risks of stigmatisation. Firstly, we assess the ways in which the use of ATs might result in the stigmatisation of users, alongside the corollary question of risks associated with a refusal to use ATs in the event of their being socially expected. Secondly, we focus on the question of whether the “project” of developing ATs for persons with ASD is itself stigmatising, and whether the “project” risks stigmatising persons with ASD by offering “cures”.

Keywords

• Ethics
• Assistive Technology
• Autism
• Stigmatisation
• expressivist objection
• social model
• medical model