Being able to be myself: Understanding autonomy and autonomy-support from the perspectives of autistic adults with intellectual disabilities.
Jackie Ryan, Heather M Brown, Anne Borden and 6 others
PMID 38757674WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults with intellectual disabilities defined autonomy as being themselves.
They wanted support through choice and control, communicating in their own way, and safe environments. Autistic facilitators were key to interpreting nonverbal cues and building trust.
Key findings
01Participants defined autonomy as being able to be themselves, feeling satisfied when their attempts at control were validated.
02Three themes emerged for support: choice and control, communicating their own way, and safe environments.
03Having autistic facilitators was an overarching strategy that helped interpret nonverbal communication and build connections.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Small sample size (8 participants) with minimal gender diversity. Data collected from only one service provider program. Interpretations of nonverbal communication were made by researchers, not confirmed by participants. Parents/guardians were not consulted about their interpretations of the participants' communication. Autistic adults with ID were not included on the community partner group.
Declared interests
The first author was an employee of the service provider where the study took place and had created the program being studied, though she had not been directly responsible for it for five years. She maintained accountability through supervision and reflexivity. Funding was from non-U.S. government sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the themes as evidence that specific interventions increase autonomy outcomes. This is a descriptive study of what participants wanted, not a trial testing whether these strategies work.