The article emphasizes the United Nations' recognition of happiness as a fundamental human goal and the barriers autistic individuals face in achieving it. Research indicates that they experience lower life satisfaction, heightened anxiety and depression, and social isolation. The current well-being movement has often overlooked this community. Emphasizing that happiness must be inclusive, it highlights that well-being for autistic individuals is unique, deriving from predictability, meaningful interests, and authentic relationships. Thus, truly advancing human flourishing necessitates engaging the autism community in conversations about happiness.
Happiness isn't just for neurotypical people-it's for everyone. If we truly want to advance human flourishing, we must ensure that autistic individuals are included.
Autistic individuals experience lower levels of life satisfaction, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and greater social isolation compared with the general population.
Meaningful interests bring deep joy and purpose—what has been commonly described as autistic joy—offering a pathway to engagement, a core element of well-being.
Many autistic individuals thrive in structured environments that provide stability and reduce stress, highlighting the need for predictability in their lives.
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