The understanding of diseases, including autism, is shaped by historical context, which continues to influence contemporary research and clinical practices. While the medical history of autism is well-documented, it is also affected by public controversies, particularly since the 1980s when autism and ASD were recognized as distinct conditions.

The way autism has been framed, from early clinical descriptions to the rise of psychoanalytic, cognitive, and genetic models, has evolved over time. Recent neurodiversity debates have influenced revisionist views of autism's history, highlighting how the portrayal of the condition has shifted alongside scientific and societal changes.

We are especially involved in work package 2, with our Doctoral Candidate Veronica Fantini working on a project entitled “Writing and Re-Writing the History of Autism: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Interplay of Clinical Histories, Social Representations, and Scientific Understanding”.