Pretty Much from Scratch: A Braided Essay on Autistic Diagnosis, Creativity, Identity, and Community
Abstract/Statement
This braided essay uses memoir and research to explore autistic diagnosis, creativity, identity, and community. It examines how the misinformation around these topics harm and “other” autistics: the fallacy of diagnostic objectivity/neutrality, the dual myths of autistic hyper- and hypo-creativity, and autism as an identity defined solely by medical professionals. The memoir sections play with point of view and genre.
Jenée is a late-realized autistic with ADHD and OCD, who identifies as neurodivergent and neuroqueer. She lives in Washington state with her spouse and dog. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and is currently a Master of Science in Restorative Practices student: focusing on the intersections of restorative practices, disability justice, and the neurodiversity paradigm with the goal of creating more restorative neurodivergent spaces and more neuroaffirming restorative spaces.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Stanfield, Jenée
(2026)
"Pretty Much from Scratch: A Braided Essay on Autistic Diagnosis, Creativity, Identity, and Community,"
Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture: Vol. 7:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
DOI: 10.9707/2833-1508.1271
Available at:
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ought/vol7/iss2/7
Included in
History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Nonfiction Commons, Other Sociology Commons, Queer Studies Commons, Women's Studies Commons