Philosophy Shifts Perspectives: Enhance Understanding Autistic Experience

Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Dr. Elisabetta Angela Rizzo on Monday, December 15, 2025, 11:30–13:00 EST (08:30–10:00 PST, 16:30–18:00 GMT, 17:30–19:00 CET). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are invited to attend.

TITLE: Philosophy Shifts Perspectives: Enhancing Understanding of Autistic Experience

DESCRIPTION: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘈𝘚𝘠 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺-𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴.

How we interpret other people shapes our relationships, and autistic people are often misinterpreted due to assumptions rooted in the “deficit model.” In this presentation, I’ll introduce a project that shifts the focus away from autistic behavior and toward neurotypical interpretive habits. The goal is to explore communication differences as differences in style, not deficits. I’ll also present a structured philosophical workshop designed to examine whether neurotypical attitudes and implicit biases can shift when people reflect on their own interpretive frameworks.

BRIEF BIO: Elisabetta Angela Rizzo holds a PhD in Philosophy. Her research explores how philosophy can deepen understanding of autistic experience. She has published on autism, perception, and empathy in the Journal of NeuroPhilosophy, Phenomenology and Mind, and in a book chapter with Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Her current work focuses on philosophical methods for improving public attitudes toward autism.

ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).

CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou

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