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ERIC Number: EJ1481400
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jul
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3148
Available Date: 2025-07-29
'It's Really Who They Are and What They Want': Staff Perspectives on Supporting Autonomy for Autistic Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Jackie Ryan1; Heather M. Brown2; Anne Borden3; Christina Devlin3; Adam Kedmy3; Austin Lee3; David B. Nicholas4; Sandy Thompson-Hodgetts5
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v38 n4 e70106 2025
Background: Autonomy is a crucial component of self-determination, yet it is limited for Autistic individuals, especially those with co-occurring intellectual disabilities. We explored how professionals supported Autistic people with intellectual disabilities' autonomy. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study used a community-based participatory approach. Nine staff who worked within a post-secondary transition programme to support Autistic young adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The quality and depth of relationships between staff and Autistic adults with intellectual disabilities, and a safe, supportive environment, were critical to supporting autonomy. Staff also identified several skill areas that would benefit program participants to exert their autonomy, including self-advocacy, interoceptive awareness, working with others, and understanding choices. Conclusions: This crucial information for supporting autonomy for Autistic adults with intellectual disabilities provides a basis for enacting programme change to promote self-determination. Recommendations for staff and programme development are provided.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 2Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; 3Autistic Community Partner (see Positionality Statement for more information); 4Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 5Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada