"I Never Matched the Mold": Illuminating the Neurodivergent Asian American Experience Through Photovoice.
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| Title: | "I Never Matched the Mold": Illuminating the Neurodivergent Asian American Experience Through Photovoice. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Chen, Emily1, Danzak, Robin L.1 robin_danzak@emerson.edu |
| Source: | Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. Dec2025, Vol. 10 Issue 6, p2160-2176. 17p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Asian Americans, *Qualitative research, *Neurodiversity, *Action research, Photography, Judgment sampling, Descriptive statistics, Thematic analysis |
| Abstract: | Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to reveal common themes in the lived experience of neurodivergent Asian American emerging adults and to understand the nature of the relationship between neurodivergence and Asian American identity when both are present. Method: Four neurodivergent Asian American emerging adults, aged 22--27 years, participated in this photovoice study. Three participants identified as ADHDers (i.e., having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], formally diagnosed), and one was an AuDHDer (i.e., autistic with ADHD, also diagnosed). All took part in four photovoice meetings on Zoom, where they shared and discussed photos representing their lives. Data included 36 photos, captions, and meeting transcripts. Interpretative phenomenological analysis led to the successive creation of exploratory notes, experiential statements, experiential themes, and overarching experiential themes, culminating in this study's findings. Results: Findings revealed struggles of neurodivergence unknown until adulthood, followed by a three-stage process: (a) "getting to where we are" (reflection, acceptance, care), (b) who we are now (authenticity), and (c) where we're going (breaking barriers, paying it forward). Conclusions: This study presents a model for the integration of Asian American and neurodivergent identities, which fostered an orientation toward joy, giving back, authenticity, and community. The model also explores how racism and ableism obstruct this integrated identity development. Implications for practice include the need for culturally responsive and neurodiversity-affirming education around, identification of, and support for this often-overlooked population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 190171840 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: "I Never Matched the Mold": Illuminating the Neurodivergent Asian American Experience Through Photovoice. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Emily%22">Chen, Emily</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Danzak%2C+Robin+L%2E%22">Danzak, Robin L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> robin_danzak@emerson.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Perspectives+of+the+ASHA+Special+Interest+Groups%22">Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 10 Issue 6, p2160-2176. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asian+Americans%22">Asian Americans</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neurodiversity%22">Neurodiversity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Action+research%22">Action research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Photography%22">Photography</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+sampling%22">Judgment sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to reveal common themes in the lived experience of neurodivergent Asian American emerging adults and to understand the nature of the relationship between neurodivergence and Asian American identity when both are present. Method: Four neurodivergent Asian American emerging adults, aged 22--27 years, participated in this photovoice study. Three participants identified as ADHDers (i.e., having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], formally diagnosed), and one was an AuDHDer (i.e., autistic with ADHD, also diagnosed). All took part in four photovoice meetings on Zoom, where they shared and discussed photos representing their lives. Data included 36 photos, captions, and meeting transcripts. Interpretative phenomenological analysis led to the successive creation of exploratory notes, experiential statements, experiential themes, and overarching experiential themes, culminating in this study's findings. Results: Findings revealed struggles of neurodivergence unknown until adulthood, followed by a three-stage process: (a) "getting to where we are" (reflection, acceptance, care), (b) who we are now (authenticity), and (c) where we're going (breaking barriers, paying it forward). Conclusions: This study presents a model for the integration of Asian American and neurodivergent identities, which fostered an orientation toward joy, giving back, authenticity, and community. The model also explores how racism and ableism obstruct this integrated identity development. Implications for practice include the need for culturally responsive and neurodiversity-affirming education around, identification of, and support for this often-overlooked population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1044/2025_PERSP-24-00303 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 2160 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Asian Americans Type: general – SubjectFull: Qualitative research Type: general – SubjectFull: Neurodiversity Type: general – SubjectFull: Action research Type: general – SubjectFull: Photography Type: general – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling Type: general – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics Type: general – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: "I Never Matched the Mold": Illuminating the Neurodivergent Asian American Experience Through Photovoice. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Chen, Emily – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Danzak, Robin L. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 12 Text: Dec2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 2381473X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 10 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups Type: main |
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