Supporting Autistic* Young Adults in Building Healthy Relationship Skills
*A note about language: In the post and in our presentation, we chose to use identity first language (ex: autistic person) rather than person-first language (ex: person with autism) based on feedback from our participants, advisors, and focus group members. Though this language is not yet standard in academic or professional spaces, there is significant evidence suggesting it is preferred by the majority of autistic young adults.
Check out our #YTHLive 2021 Presentation where we share the results and learnings from our first project to help build the relationship and independent living skills of autistic young adults.
With the help of an amazing cast of advisors, focus group participants, and actors, we developed 20 Microskillβ’ training videos to build relationship skills, such as how to deal with put-downs and how to give and ask for an apology.
We piloted the resource with 17 autistic young adults and saw a significant improvement (p=.000) in their skill usage in both skills from their pre-roleplay to their post roleplay. We also saw significant improvement (p=.001) in self-assessed skill level for two of our skills, giving and asking for an apology.
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to integrate all the amazing feedback we received from our participants into our Phase II study, which will include 150+ videos and a randomized controlled trial with 200 participants. This will include:
An emphasis on the celebration of autistic identities, the centering of autistic voices, and the use of concepts developed and supported by autism self-advocates.
Materials that do not pressure autistic individuals to behave neurotypically or suppress their autistic traits.
Videos on a broad range of relationship types including partners, coworkers, roommates, hook-ups, bosses, etc.
The addition of self-advocacy & activism skills, employment & educational skills, relationship transition skills, and skills for navigating power dynamics.
A set of videos intended to be viewed and discussed with neurotypical peers/family covering communication needs and ways to βmeet in the middle.β
We are excited to continue this work with passionate and out-spoken young adults in the autistic community!
