Challenges and Learnings from the work “We Don’t Really Fit”: Autistic Chinese Migrant Experiences in the UK

This symposium presentation reflects on the process of developing a research-informed chapter exploring the experiences of autistic Chinese migrants in the United Kingdom. Rather than presenting findings alone, the focus is on the epistemological, methodological, and practical challenges encountered in attempting to research and represent a marginalised and underexplored population. The presentation situates this work within broader Global North constructions of normality, shaped by capitalism and colonialism, and considers how these frameworks intersect with Chinese cultural histories and contemporary understandings of autism. Key challenges included limited existing literature, barriers to community engagement, cultural tensions around disclosure and stigma, and the positionality of researchers working across cultural and epistemological boundaries. The presentation argues that these challenges are not incidental but reflect deeper structural inequalities in knowledge production. It concludes by advocating for culturally grounded, participatory, and decolonial approaches to future research and practice.