ERIC Number: EJ1307794
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Oct
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
"Camouflaging" by Adolescent Autistic Girls Who Attend Both Mainstream and Specialist Resource Classes: Perspectives of Girls, Their Mothers and Their Educators
Halsall, Joanne; Clarke, Chris; Crane, Laura
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v25 n7 p2074-2086 Oct 2021
Autistic girls' heightened social motivation and associated social coping strategies, such as camouflaging, mean they may be less likely to receive appropriate support in mainstream schools. In this research, a multi-informant approach was used to examine the camouflaging strategies used by autistic girls within specialist resource classes attached to mainstream schools (whereby girls transition between resource classes and mainstream classes). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adolescent girls, their parents (eight mothers) and their educators (six teaching assistants/aides and one senior staff member) about the girls' camouflaging experiences. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (1) inconsistencies and contradictions in camouflaging, (2) challenges of relationships and 'finding a tribe', (3) learning, inclusion and awareness and (4) consequences of camouflaging. These results highlight the challenges that the girls experienced when attempting to hide their autism and fit within both mainstream classes and specialist resource classes. These challenges had significant impacts on the girls' relationships and learning, as well as consequences for their mental health. The findings highlight the need for increased awareness of how camouflaging presents across the autism spectrum and suggests that individualised, evidence-based support will be essential for enabling autistic girls to flourish in school.
Descriptors: Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Females, Mainstreaming, Special Classes, Adolescents, Barriers, Mental Health, Gender Differences, Peer Acceptance, Student Behavior, Foreign Countries, Friendship, Peer Relationship, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Parent Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A