Libraries in the ARD
The ARD currently consists of three separate searchable libraries:

• Autism in Fiction

• Autism in Autobiographical Non-Fiction

• Autism in Film and Television

The libraries are still under construction (submit an entry).

Tags
Each work in the ARD is further categorized with multiple tags, with the purpose of encouraging exploration of intersecting autistic identities. The tags are largely self-explanatory, but a few need further explanation:

• Autistic Author/Actor: The autistic author and autistic actor tags are assigned to works created by individuals who openly identify as autistic. The database takes these identifications at face value, having no other means of determining legitimacy. In the case of film, the tag neurotypical actor is assigned to actors who have not explicitly identified themselves as autistic. Films that feature autistic actors (e.g., Anthony Hopkins, Wentworth Miller) but are not autism-themed are for the time being excluded from this database.

• Identified v. Coded: A work with an identified tag [e.g., autism (identified)] explicitly mentions an Autism Spectrum Disorder by name, within the text or film itself or within promotional materials. Rain Man is therefore tagged as autism (identified). A work identified as coded [e.g., Asperger syndrome (coded)] does not explicitly identify the ASD diagnosis, and is arguably more subjective. Generally, a coded work has been defined as such in scholarly sources or online discussions. The coded tag thus depends more on recognition than on the original intent of the author or creator.

• LGBTQA: The lgbtq tag is assigned to works that feature members of the LGBTQA community. When the work references specific gender identity and/or sexual orientation, a corresponding tag is added. Thus a work might be tagged both lgbtqa and non-binary when this description is suggested or stated about the autistic character.

• Race/Ethnicity: Race/ethnicity tags are given to works that specifically identify the race/ethnicity of the autistic character, most often through visual representation (e.g., children's literature or television). Works that do not specify the race/ethnicity of the autistic character are left untagged. Thus Crow Boy by Taro Yashima is tagged Japanese, but The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is left untagged.

• Self-Published: Unlike many academic databases, the ARD considers self-published works about autism and by autistic people as instances of autistic representation. Many of the works included in the ARD are thus tagged self-published.

To search by multiple tags, use the following formula in the search bar: tag: tag1, tag2, tag3, etc. (e.g., tag: lgbtqa, self-published, autistic author).