TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose Many people with an autistic spectrum condition have one or more “special interests” which is more restricted, and which they pursue with more than average intensity. The purpose of this paper is to offer a first-person perspective on inclusion of special interests in academic learning. The paper describes examples of special interests of university students and offers recommendations for university teachers.Design/methodology/approach The author combines the emerging strategy of using his own autobiographical material as research object with the more establish method of conceptual analysis.Findings The author finds that special interests can be a source of academic strength, but can also interfere with learning. The paper argues that including special interests in academic learning is an effective way of including students with autism in higher education, but requires some special provisions.Originality/value Existing research has focused either on the special interests of persons with autism or on their inclusion in education, but the combination of these two issues has rarely been considered. The paper addresses this neglected topic from the inside perspective of a former student with autism who, after completing a research master’s in philosophy, was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at age 34. The author combines this inside perspective with knowledge of the theory and history of autism.
VL  - 4
IS  - 4
SN  - 2056-3868
DO  - 10.1108/AIA-05-2018-0020
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-05-2018-0020
AU  - Boven Frederik
PY  - 2018
Y1  - 2018/01/01
TI  - Special interests and inclusive academic learning: an autistic perspective
T2  - Advances in Autism
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 155
EP  - 164
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -