Inclusion, Exclusion and Isolation of Autistic People: Community Attitudes and Autistic People’s Experiences

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Thom-Jones, S., Gordon, C. S., Akram, M., Murphy, N., & Sharkie, F. (2021). Inclusion, Exclusion and Isolation of Autistic People: Community Attitudes and Autistic People’s Experiences. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(3), 1131-1142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04998-7

Publication date: 21 Apr 2021 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
5
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 5 (20.0%)
  1. Sandra Thom-Jones *
  2. Chloe S. Gordon
  3. Muhammad Akram
  4. Nicole Murphy
  5. Fiona Sharkie

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.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
40
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
1 / 40 (2.5%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
1 / 118 (0.8%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 1 / 39 (2.6%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 1 / 114 (0.9%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
39 / 118 (33.1%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 36 / 114 (31.6%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
38 / 39 (97.4%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 38 / 118 (32.2%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 35 / 36 (97.2%).
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