Not robots; Cyborgs — Furthering anti-ableist research in human-computer interaction

Authors

  • Josh Guberman
  • Oliver Haimson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v28i1.12910

Abstract

This theoretical essay builds on existing literature to draw out the consequences of dehumanizing and disseminating autism discourses within the field of human-computer interaction (HCI). Focusing mainly on narratives in HCI that frame autistic people as or like machines, we explore how dominant constructions of autism in HCI work to normalize the field’s complicity in violent autism intervention paradigms, despite HCI researchers’ well-meaning intentions. We work towards developing crip-cyborgs as an alternative framework for understanding autistic people (as opposed to computers or robots) and suggest crip technoscience as a framework for research based on this alternative understanding. In doing so, we hope to enroll misguided but well-intentioned researchers in dismantling anti-autistic ableism, both in and beyond HCI.

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Published

2023-01-16 — Updated on 2023-02-07

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How to Cite

Guberman, J., & Haimson, O. (2023). Not robots; Cyborgs — Furthering anti-ableist research in human-computer interaction. First Monday, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v28i1.12910 (Original work published January 16, 2023)

Issue

Section

2. Disabled resistance to discriminatory information systems requires a re-mixing and re-imagining of classification and surveillance technologies