On Tuesday, April 14, the Education in Zion Theater in the JFSB at BYU hosted a one-of-a-kind event that blended storytelling with scientific research. Five autistic adults took the stage to share deeply personal stories about their lives, offering insight into their challenges, perspectives, and triumphs. The event created a rare opportunity for audience members to hear directly from autistic individuals and engage with experiences that are often overlooked or misunderstood.
These photos capture moments from the event alongside selected quotes from each storyteller, highlighting the emotion, honesty, and individuality of their narratives. In addition to the storytelling, the event also served as a live research study, using brain imaging technology to explore how storytelling may foster connection and mutual understanding between autistic and non autistic individuals. Grounded in the theory of the Double Empathy Problem, the study reflects an ongoing effort to better understand how empathy works across different lived experiences and how story can help bridge that gap.
“Even when my contributions look different or weird or when others just don't understand how much I put in, my contribution is valuable and makes a difference.”
-Miriam
“Failure is the first step to success.”- Josie
“But now, when a wave knocks me down, I don’t blame myself for not being in control enough to stay standing.”
-Thomas
“And I thought, wow, this is the first time I’ve seen a character who has gone through the same experience I have, and I actually like them. It made me wonder if I could actually be liked for being who I am. That started to change something in me."- Joseph
“I approach every conversation like it's an attack in a turn based strategy game.”-Bowen
