Katherine Ardeleanu, Hillary Steinberg, Tamara Garfield, Samuelle Voltaire, Lindsay Shea, Maci Brown, Kyle Chvasta, Catherine Do Tan
{"title":"Self-identification of autism: Why some autistic adults lack a clinical diagnosis and why this matters for inclusion.","authors":"Katherine Ardeleanu, Hillary Steinberg, Tamara Garfield, Samuelle Voltaire, Lindsay Shea, Maci Brown, Kyle Chvasta, Catherine Do Tan","doi":"10.1177/13623613241297222","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Lay abstract: </strong>Most autism research and services focus on individuals with formal autism diagnoses. However, autism activists and self-advocates have raised awareness about the challenges that can prevent individuals from seeking or getting an autism diagnosis. We interviewed 65 queer and transgender adults who either self-identified as autistic without a formal diagnosis or who had a formal autism diagnosis. We found that participants made meaning of their autistic diagnosis and/or identity and found affirmation in this, faced significant barriers and deterrents to getting diagnosed, and experienced invalidation as both a barrier to and product of diagnosis. Due to the challenges that individuals face in getting a diagnosis, we recommend that researchers and advocates consider including self-identified autistic individuals in research and services.</p>","PeriodicalId":8724,"journal":{"name":"Autism","volume":" ","pages":"13623613241297222"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Autism","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241297222","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Lay abstract: Most autism research and services focus on individuals with formal autism diagnoses. However, autism activists and self-advocates have raised awareness about the challenges that can prevent individuals from seeking or getting an autism diagnosis. We interviewed 65 queer and transgender adults who either self-identified as autistic without a formal diagnosis or who had a formal autism diagnosis. We found that participants made meaning of their autistic diagnosis and/or identity and found affirmation in this, faced significant barriers and deterrents to getting diagnosed, and experienced invalidation as both a barrier to and product of diagnosis. Due to the challenges that individuals face in getting a diagnosis, we recommend that researchers and advocates consider including self-identified autistic individuals in research and services.
期刊介绍:
Autism is a major, peer-reviewed, international journal, published 8 times a year, publishing research of direct and practical relevance to help improve the quality of life for individuals with autism or autism-related disorders. It is interdisciplinary in nature, focusing on research in many areas, including: intervention; diagnosis; training; education; translational issues related to neuroscience, medical and genetic issues of practical import; psychological processes; evaluation of particular therapies; quality of life; family needs; and epidemiological research. Autism provides a major international forum for peer-reviewed research of direct and practical relevance to improving the quality of life for individuals with autism or autism-related disorders. The journal''s success and popularity reflect the recent worldwide growth in the research and understanding of autistic spectrum disorders, and the consequent impact on the provision of treatment and care. Autism is interdisciplinary in nature, focusing on evaluative research in all areas, including: intervention, diagnosis, training, education, neuroscience, psychological processes, evaluation of particular therapies, quality of life issues, family issues and family services, medical and genetic issues, epidemiological research.