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. 2024 Feb 28;6(1):95–105. doi: 10.1089/aut.2023.0019

Table 1.

Codebook of Content Topics and Categories

Content topic Description Example
Features of autism
 Diagnostic features: RRBs Depicts characteristic features of autism such as repetitive movements, use of objects, insistence on sameness, intense interests, or sensory processing differences Discussing special interests and benefit of stimming to handle sensory processing
 Diagnostic features: social/communication Depicts challenges in areas such as social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communication, eye contact, use of gestures, using facial expressions, or developing/maintaining relationships Individual describing challenges in recognizing facial expressions of others
 Associated core experiences Characteristics or experiences common among autistic people such as meltdowns that are not diagnostic features Sharing difficulties with emotional regulation or executive functioning
 Gifts/talents Autistic person showing an activity at which that they are particularly talented Drawing detailed pictures of animals
Marginalization
 Lack of access Describing lack of/absence of accommodations, support, or access Parent showing that school is not using child's assistive communication device
 Stigma/misconceptions/discrimination Depiction of response to encountering stigma, discrimination, or challenging misconceptions Providing examples of stigmatizing comments that are often made about autistic people
 Inspiration porn Nonautistic person talking about autistic person in a way that is meant to be inspirational for other nonautistic people, or using the autistic experience for inspiration Performer on the street hugging autistic child; using autistic person's excitement for inspiration
Supports
 Accommodations Demonstrating or describing accommodations or supports that promote access, inclusion, and integration in daily life Description of sensory friendly accommodations in public; video tour of autistic adult's adapted living space
 Services/interventions/treatments Related to autism diagnosis, services, or interventions provided by a health care professional or paraprofessional Sharing individual experience trying to get an autism diagnosis
 Caregiving Assisting someone with activities of daily living or providing social/emotional support beyond what would be expected for a nonautistic peer Sibling helping adult autistic brother drink from cup
Positive social interactions Communicates positive experiences with love, relationships, or affection Friend at the playground demonstrating patience with an autistic child
Daily life A video that does not fit into any other content topic and depicts an autistic person's daily life. A neutral social interaction may be included. Packing a lunch; going fishing with family
Other/miscellaneous Link between video content and autism is unclear or nonexistent Recording of person playing a video game
Category Description Example
Observational Getting a glimpse at someone's life or a particular situation. Does not contain any commentary (verbal or text) that is designed to share a specific individual's (or group's) experiences Stimming, opening a present, drawing a picture or doing another creative activity, having a meltdown
Experiential Contains commentary (verbal or text) designed to share a specific individual's (or group's) experiences; may have a declarative statement but it is specific to a person Recounting experience of sharing diagnosis with family members
Educational Contains commentary (verbal or text) explicitly about autism or the autism community; can include spreading awareness of autism and features of autism; commentary is designed to educate people An autistic person describing features of autism and how autism looks different in different people

RRBs, restrictive and repetitive behaviors.