Changelings and the Folk History of Autism

Before the term “autism,” children with autistic traits were often called “changelings.” History is full of folk tales of these changelings, which, like autism today, were often considered monstrous. Looking back at this folklore can show us how autism has always existed, and teach us about the history of autism acceptance.

Travel with me to Ireland to visit sites associated with changeling folklore. I’ve compiled tales of changelings from Celtic, Germanic, and Norse folklore tales. These folktales tell of human babies swapped at birth for shapeshifting faeries, goblins, or other monsters. I'll also explore how descriptions of changelings often match with modern descriptions of autism and other neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, Epilepsy, Hyperlexia, and more — and what this means for neurodivergent people today.

CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of violence against disabled children.
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Read the blog adaptation of this video on the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network blog: https://awnnetwork.org/changelings-an...