Inside the Autside

In November 2023, I published my first monograph: Inside the Autside: a Misfit Manifesto. It is available via Amazon and via your local bookstore with ISBN-13 : ‎ 979-8866882281.

Inside the Autside aims to demonstrate how the neurotypical norm has a negative effect on the lives of both autistic and neurotypical people. In my view, autism is a natural variant within the human species and a neurodiversity of worldviews can provide a valuable “out of the box” contribution to the world. With this work of ‘autiethnography’, I hope to offer a glimpse of living inside the aut-side. From the frustrations, over-stimulation and social differences, to the flow of hyper focus, the pure contact with animals and the inner quietness of being absorbed in your special interests. It is my wish that this book can make a contribution to increase awareness and understanding of complex identities, to mobilise people to be autism allies, and to encourage people of all neurotypes to realise their own rich and deep lives. For, in the words of Oliver Sacks, conditions such as autism “can play a paradoxical role, by bringing out latent powers, developments, evolutions, forms of life that might never be seen, or even be imaginable, in their absence”.

My autism plays an important role in my other writings as well. If you like to read more, just click here for some of my blogs & articles on autism in English.

Works on Autism in Dutch

I contributed various chapters to the Dutch books “Lifehacks voor meiden met autisme” and “Lifehacks voor vrouwen met autisme“. Together with my friend Jolijn de Wolf, I created a creative toolbox called “Aut of the Box“.

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Unboxing Video

Scholarly work

Mussies, Martine. 2020. “Autiethnography.” In “Fan Studies Methodologies,” edited by Julia E. Largent, Milena Popova, and Elise Vist, special issue, Transformative Works and Cultures, no. 33. https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2020.1789. [Academia]

Talking about autism

To support autism awareness, I give talks and trainings both in- and outside academia. Just drop me a note if you like to invite me to speak at your event.