Lay summary
This research project explores Māori, Pacific, and International Indigenous diasporic perspectives of autism and disability. We frame these identities as Tangata Whenua, Tangata Moana, and Tangata Tiriti perspectives.This research responds to the lack of wider cultural perspectives of disability and autism. Disability and autism are often understood solely as diagnostic traits. This understanding permeates all sectors that provide service to disabled people. However, there are wider cultural understandings of disability that move beyond diagnostic criteria. These perspectives are required to effectively reach and cater to the diverse disabled community within Aotearoa to account for the array of histories, customs, or ancestral stories of disability within Māori, Pacific, and Indigenous diasporic communities. These perspectives are needed to cultivate the professional expertise, engagement and effective planning in the health and disability sectors to cater to the diverse populations in Aotearoa.