I see you: insider ethnographic study in a neurodiverse community

In this paper, we discuss how the insider status of a researcher conducting an ethnographic study into a neurodivergent community both addressed some of the common issues encountered by ethnographers, and proved valuable in its own right. During this emergent study, the lead author’s unexpected discovery of her own neurodivergence triggered a shift from observation to insider observation plus lived experience. The trust afforded to insiders is not a new discovery, however, in a community such as this where the members have experienced varying levels of othering, ostracising, and marginalisation, recognising the lead author as one who belonged facilitated the co-creation of an account rich in insight. Not only did the resulting openness of participants contribute to more meaningful interactions, but the ability of the lead researcher to relate to the experiences which were being discussed enabled us to see beyond what was explicitly said, and to use the lead researcher’s own experience as an example to illustrate the liminal journey towards self-acceptance.