'It's being a part of a grand tradition, a grand counter-culture which involves communities': A qualitative investigation of autistic community connectedness.
Monique Botha, Bridget Dibb, David M Frost
PMID 35318862WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults described community connectedness as having three distinct parts: a feeling of belonging, specific friendships, and political advocacy.
Online spaces and autistic-led events were key for connection, while internalised stigma or a weak autistic identity acted as barriers.
Key findings
01Autistic community connectedness consists of three subdomains: belongingness, social connectedness, and political connectedness.
02The Internet was the predominant space for social connectedness because it removed constraints like eye contact and body language.
03Disconnectedness from the community was linked to autism not being central to personal identity, internalised stigma, or a turbulent diagnosis process.
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
The sample was predominantly white and diagnosed, limiting generalisability to other racial groups or self-diagnosed individuals. No participants with co-occurring learning disabilities were interviewed, excluding those with higher support needs. The study focused on connectedness, so the experiences of those who are disconnected or find the community exclusionary are less detailed. Small sample size (n=20) means findings are exploratory and not generalisable.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The work was supported by the University of Surrey and the Economic and Social Research Council.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all autistic people find comfort in autistic community spaces. Three participants felt disconnected due to internalised stigma or identity issues, and the study notes that the community itself has systemic barriers like racism. Connection is not a universal benefit for every autistic individual.