In this episode of The Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 1 of Autistic Culture: Bottom-Up Processing.

We begin our deep dive into the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture with the cognitive foundation that shapes how many autistic people interpret, analyse, and interact with the world—from sensory input to social understanding.

This remastered episode reintroduces the core principles of bottom-up thinking through the lens of one of fiction’s most iconic detail-driven characters: Sherlock Holmes.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autistic cognition favours detail-first processing over top-down assumptions
How bottom-up processing supports pattern recognition, innovation, and autonomy
The role of sensory integration and special interests in cognitive and emotional navigation
How society pathologizes bottom-up thinkers as insubordinate, difficult, or even “broken”
How internalized ableism can lead autistic people to distrust their own cognitive strengths
Why reclaiming and celebrating bottom-up processing can improve mental health and self-trust

Related Episodes:

Chess is Autistic

Broadway is Autistic

Washington DC is Autistic

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🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

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