Alice Leyman

1.     PhD in Human Geography (Multi-Disciplinary) ‘An Exploration of Cosplay in Autistic Children and Young People’

My thesis explores particular play practices of autistic children and young people to aid communication and interaction in the face of social exclusion within and across multiple spaces and places, including the creation of new spaces specifically made for the expression of self. 

Together with the exploration of cosplay, this study sought to facilitate positive engagement of autistic youth through child interest led methodological practices that incorporated a variety of communication methods and participant preferences, with the hope that the method design could be utilised for future research.

My research looks particularly at the type of spaces created by cosplay – a particular character dress up play practice, and the rationale behind the choice to cosplay.  Findings show the practice of cosplay is enabling the exploration of identity, the creation of valuable and meaningful safe and practice spaces for autistic children and young people and a source and structure for social behaviour.

Working closely and directly with autistic children and young people and their families to collect narratives of social experiences, participants have detailed multi-faceted exclusionary forces, including environmental sensory stresses, inaccurate assumptions and tacit ideas surrounding autism and neurodiversity, and challenges associated with autism’s neurology. 

My research hopes to challenge assumptions and provide insight into autistic children and young people’s social behaviour and play practice, including their social ability and social influence, a demonstration of proactive social agency and a desire to participate further in research and that which concerns their own lives.

Links to Published Works:

Leyman, A.(2022) Use of digital platforms by autistic children and young people for creative dress-up play (cosplay) to facilitate and support social interaction, Digital Geography & Society, 3

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666378322000149

I also have a book chapter in an edited collection due to be published in October.