Supporting Newly Identified or Diagnosed Autistic Adults: An Initial Evaluation of an Autistic-Led Programme.

This was a small, initial qualitative evaluation of 16 adults, so it reports experiences rather than tested effects. It was an experience-based evaluation, not a trial of effectiveness. All participants were able to take part in a social peer group, and the groups were relatively similar in that respect, so findings may not apply to autistic adults with intellectual disability or those unable to attend group settings. Only 11 participants took part in the 6-month follow-up interviews. Fewer participants from the second iteration took part in follow-up interviews. The programme was not manualised, and it was difficult to determine whether the facilitator's skills or the programme content and structure were responsible. The facilitator helped devise and promote the evaluation, so participants may have been positively biased, although an independent researcher conducted interviews and participants also gave criticism.

Do not read this as proof that the programme works or that autistic-led groups are better than professional support. It reports interview experiences from a small evaluation, not a trial of effectiveness, and participants may have been positively biased because the facilitator helped promote the programme.