Critical autism studies (CAS) is an interdisciplinary research field within autism studies led by autistic people.
[3][4][6] The point of this field's existence is to give power to the voices of autistic people in autism research,[4] but there is critique of the field for failing to represent the depth of how intersectionality affects autistic people.
[6] The field of critical autism studies was created for the purpose of creating a better life for autistic individuals[4][3] through the challenging of the medical model of disability, ableism against autistic individuals, and harmful stereotypes about autism.
[4] Many CAS scholars are from fields in the social sciences and humanities.
[4] The primary components of this field of research are how autism as a label is impacted by power relations between autistic and non-autistic scholars, challenges against the medical model of disability and deficit narratives in relation to autism, and how autism as an identity is highly individualized.