Autism voices: Perspectives of the needs, challenges, and hopes for the future of autistic youth.
Autistic teens say autonomy, self-defined friends, and less school stress matter most—so ask first, then plan.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Tesfaye et al. (2023) asked autistic teens what they need, fear, and hope for.
The team ran open interviews with autistic youth aged 11-18.
Kids talked about identity, friends, school stress, and plans for the future.
What they found
Six clear themes popped out.
Teens want to choose their own path, pick their own friends, and feel less worry at school.
They also want adults to see autism as part of who they are, not a problem to fix.
How this fits with other research
Cribb et al. (2019) heard the same hunger for control from slightly older autistic young adults.
Adams et al. (2020) showed that almost every autistic child feels anxiety, yet half say adults miss it at school—Rackeb’s youth repeat that complaint.
Calder et al. (2013) warned that forced “friendship” goals can backfire; Rackeb’s teens confirm they want self-chosen social ties, not adult-scripted ones.
Why it matters
If you write goals or pick supports, start by asking the teen, not the chart.
Swap some compliance targets for choice-making opportunities.
Let social goals reflect the kid’s own definition of friendship.
Small moves like these turn yesterday’s “deficits” into today’s self-direction.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Currently, our understanding of the adolescent period for autistic youth has relied on the expertise of researchers, clinicians, parents, and teachers, yet rarely involves their unique first-person experiences. Our study attempted to understand the experiences and perspectives of autistic adolescents in their home, school, and community environments using the Autism Voices protocol, a semi-structured interview specifically designed and tailored to engage with autistic youth with various language and intellectual levels. The analysis of the 31 interviews conducted with autistic adolescents aged 11-18 years highlighted six themes: (1) autistic identities, (2) thinking about the future, (3) seeking social connection on their own terms, (4) seeking autonomy, (5) school as both a stressor and social facilitator, and (6) experiences of stress and anxiety. These results highlight similarities and differences in the adolescent experiences of autistic youth compared to their typically developing peers. Our findings suggest that by removing assumptions about the experiences of autistic individuals and investing in inclusive interview methods, we can faithfully capture the experiences of autistic youth regardless of their communication and cognitive abilities. Being able to capture and amplify these diverse voices will facilitate the active involvement of autistic communities in research and clinical and policy decisions that impact them.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2023 · doi:10.1177/13623613221132108