How Incorporating a Neurodiversity Perspective Through Folk Narrative Matters and Why It Needs to Happen

Abstract

This paper analyzes how we can create more understanding and incorporate acceptance of neurodiversity through the use of folk narratives. Folklore research as a whole can make an important contribution to the study of stigma by studying how normalcy works to stigmatize difference, how authoritative claims to knowledge produce ideological differences, and how categories produce exclusions and inclusions which are central to understanding society.

To begin with, some terms must be defined for the purpose of this paper. Folk narrative here is one of the many subcategories of folklore, involving folktales, fairy tales, myths, legends, and folksong. Folklore itself is interpreted here as a group’s traditions, which can include literature, arts, beliefs, customs, rites, crafts, and aspects of language. Both of these concepts will be further discussed in this paper.