Examining the Support Experiences of Autistic Young People with Multiple Marginalized Identities in the United Kingdom

Davies, J., Islaam, L., Carter, S., Redmayne, B. J. M., Cooper, K., Mandy, W., & Crane, L. (2024). Examining the Support Experiences of Autistic Young People with Multiple Marginalized Identities in the United Kingdom. Autism in Adulthood, 8(3), 385-397. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0059

Publication date: 28 Oct 2024 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 7 (28.6%)

Abstract

Background: The challenges that autistic young people face when accessing support have been well documented. However, such issues may be exacerbated for autistic young people who have additional marginalized identities (e.g., being from a minority ethnic group or minority gender) compared with autistic young people who do not have additional marginalized identities. Methods: We took a participatory approach that included autistic young people with multiple marginalized identities at every stage of the research process. Our team interviewed 13 autistic young people (aged 16–25 years) who also identified with other marginalized identities. We analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: We generated one superordinate theme, which reflected how accessing support was perceived to be challenging for all autistic young people but especially so for this group with multiple marginalized identities. Within the superordinate theme, we generated three subthemes that provide examples of how common challenges were felt to be exacerbated for our participants. First, our participants reported difficulties in obtaining timely diagnoses, which hindered access to appropriate support services. Second, they expressed a sense of exclusion from existing support structures, with services often failing to address their unique needs. Finally, cultural and linguistic barriers meant that our participants’ parents and caregivers did not always know how to help them get support. As a result, some of our participants had to advocate for themselves. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need for more inclusive and accessible support services that meet the diverse needs of all autistic young people, including those with multiple marginalized identities. Recommendations include offering a variety of support options to accommodate individual preferences and providing ways to empower all autistic people to advocate for their support needs.

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 11:30.

Cited references
59
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
11 / 59 (18.6%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
25 / 248 (10.1%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 25 / 142 (17.6%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 17 / 208 (8.2%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
142 / 248 (57.3%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 105 / 208 (50.5%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
117 / 142 (82.4%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 117 / 248 (47.2%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 88 / 105 (83.8%).
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