Inclusion, Exclusion and Isolation of Autistic People: Community Attitudes and Autistic People's Experiences.
Community rejection hits autistic adults hardest, so change the setting before you try to change the person.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Mammarella et al. (2022) asked non-autistic adults and carers across Australia about their views on autistic people. They also asked autistic adults how they felt they were treated.
The team used an online survey. They wanted to know where and how autistic people are left out, shut out, or kept apart from everyday life.
What they found
Most non-autistic adults and carers said autistic people face clear discrimination. Autistic adults reported the coldest attitudes and the most rejection.
The gap was starkest for autistic adults. They felt far less welcome than autistic children did in the eyes of the public.
How this fits with other research
Davies et al. (2024) pooled 20+ studies and found the same link: outside acceptance predicts stronger autistic identity and better mental health. Mammarella et al. (2022) now shows the flip side—low acceptance is common.
Bitsika et al. (2020) drilled into police stops and also found autistic adults were unhappy and feared disclosure. The new survey widens the lens: the problem is not just police; it is shops, buses, workplaces, and neighbors.
Pearson et al. (2023) let autistic adults describe bullying and assault in their own words. Their stories add flesh to the numbers in C et al.: exclusion is not just a feeling; it often comes with real harm.
Why it matters
If you run social-skills groups, vocational training, or community outings, start by checking the setting’s attitude first. Train staff, peers, or employers before the autistic person arrives. A short primer on autism and a clear welcome message can cut rejection faster than teaching the client to mask. Target adults specifically—they carry the heaviest load of negative views.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
There is limited research examining the inclusion of autistic people in their local communities. This paper reports on two Australian studies which explored this gap, focusing on both autistic people's experiences and non-autistic people's attitudes towards autistic individuals. Study One was conducted with primarily non-autistic people (n = 2,383), and Study Two with primarily parents and carers of autistic people (n = 1,297 people). The majority of non-autistic adults perceived discrimination against autistic people in the community; consistent with the experiences of autistic people and their carers. Of particular concern was more negative attitudes towards, and experiences of, autistic adults. There is an urgent need to improve society's acceptance and inclusion of autistic people of all ages.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2022 · doi:10.1177/0020764011431792