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

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