What is autistic joy?

In this previously unseen clip from our Divergent Voices series, Purple Ella speaks to autistic occupational therapist Rosalind Brooks, and autism writer James Ward-Sinclair, about how they would define autistic joy.
This video was created by Clinical Partners for the NHS. The series is part of autism unlocked - a dedicated space for autistic people and their families to receive expert advice and guidance on a range of issues.
About Purple Ella:
Ella is a RUclips content creator and advocate. You can find their channel here: / purpleella
About James Ward-Sinclair:
James is an autistic writer and blogger at Autistic & Unapologetic, as well as an advocate for the wider autistic community. You can find his blog here:
autisticanduna...
About Rosalind Brooks:
Rosalind is an autistic occupational therapist, trainer, and passionate neurodivergent advocate. You can see her profile here:
lsc.autismunlo...
Visit the autism unlocked website:
lsc.autismunlo...
Find out more about Clinical Partners:
www.clinical-p...

[@dmgroberts5471]

For me, it's that moment when you have something related to your Special Interest, that's new, and you're about to deep dive it.
But, to James' point, I always enjoyed watching a movie I had already seen, with my late wife. It was like discovering it anew through her eyes. She would say, "if I have any questions, I can just ask you, you'll know." I was essentially her annotated guide to Game of Thrones, Star Wars, LoTR, Dune, etc.

[@andyvan5692]

Purple Ella, a great topic, for 'joy' in the Autistic community (I am one myself) it is our 'Zen palace' not just when doing activities, but when shutting down (in a safe way, NOT because of too much going in!) after a hard day, and with no non-"neurodivergent" interference, being given one to two hours of just us, safe, doing our thing (and not sleeping), or when interacting with people who realy GET us, and are kind (in an autistic way) to our needs.

[@gloriajewelart]

“shutting down in a safe way” thank u for sharing so helpful for me to verbalize this cuz i shut down all the time when i feel sad or scared but i also find myself “shutting down” i know it looks similar on the outside to others maybe? but for me it’s like i am hyperfixated on something I am interested in even if it’s not a special interest but just an intenseee interest in that moment like sometimes i feel rewarded for cleaning (RARELY LOL) but on the rare occasion i feel motivated to clean something it’s like so rewarding to feel like i am in some form of control by that i mean able to focus at the task at hand even if it’s just for a little while cuz the fact i’m cleaning at all can sometimes feel like a miracle i liveeee in my head most of the time but after reading ur comment tho i might even consider it to kinda be me a positive shut down inside myself like collapsing within but in a safe environment + (the environment includes my brain 🧠)

[@loricat5606]

I think this does a good job of showing multiple ways that joy can be experienced from (hyper)fixation ("special interest"). I experience it in all of those ways. (autistic)

[@gloriajewelart]

SO TRUE MEETING NEW HUMANS WHO SEEM TO 100% GENUINELY CARE TO LEARN ABOUT MY SPECIAL INTERESTS LIKE WOW THE MINUTE I ASSUME THEY CARE TO KNOW MY HEART LIKE SKYROCKETS WITHOUT EVEN ANY CONTROL OF MY OF MY OWN ITS JUST LIKE PURE JOY IN THAT MOMENT❤ 🚀

[@chloebunde4455]

For me autistic joy is when I’m able to stim in ways that feel good to me :) also being in a flow state! And, doing echolalia or stimming with my partner who is also autistic! Thanks for this series! It’s so cool to see multiple perspectives/autistic people in conversation about these helpful topics

[@andyvan5692]

one piece of feedback, Friends and friendship are not topics which we as an autistic community always associate with, as some of us with lower social skills, or communication ability ( can sign, but not talk), or just can't interact with people (can't read body language), we call the people we 'interact with' acquaintances, as we can't interact socially with them ( in a 'normal' way); BUT we can with our family or close support network ( mentors, support workers, OT's, doctors) so, as we CAN interact with them in some meaningful way (to us), we do call this group our 'friends'.

[@dyslexicimprovement2239]

I have a friend with adhd and when we where together he would have too much joy and forgot things.