Self-advocacy and self-determination of autistic students: a review of the literature

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Zuber, W. J. & Webber, C. (2019). Self-advocacy and self-determination of autistic students: a review of the literature. Advances in Autism, 5(2), 107-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/aia-02-2018-0005

Publication date: 20 Feb 2019 Added to AutiHub: 4 Oct 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. William James Zuber
  2. Colin Webber *

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine current research on self-advocacy and self-determination of autistic students in order to provide an overview of the research and to critically evaluate researcher’s methods of inclusivity of autistic people. Additionally, this paper will critically analyse the discourse of the current research to assess the extent of deficit, stigma and pathology discourse. Design/methodology/approach Research will be selected from a list of criteria which is to seek research that is inclusive of autistic people. The research will be analysed using elements of critical discourse analysis, critical disability studies and critical autism studies. The critical autism studies approach used in this paper is emancipatory to promote autistic scholarship, autistic inclusivity and autistic led research methods. Findings The result of this paper is that by prioritising, and including autistic individuals in the studies about them provides valuable educational insights and often challenges assumptions, stigmas and stereotypes of autistic individuals. Research limitations/implications The findings of the paper may be limited by the selection of literature reviewed and generalizability, therefore, researchers are encouraged to explore further. Practical implications This paper holds potential implications that question the consistency of current discourse and research into self-advocacy for autistic individuals in addition to providing effective research, teaching and support strategies based on insight. This paper also highlights some research that challenges assumptions of autistic individuals. Social implications This paper challenges assumptions and stigmas associated with autistic individuals and demonstrates the importance of self-advocacy and self-determination. This research transforms the paradigm of autism and education practice that has the potential to improve autistic individuals’ education and ultimately, improve their lives. Originality/value This research is important and valuable as there is limited research in this area. The potential of this research is that it can shift the broad perceptions of autism and make improvements in education and autistic individuals lives.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 17 Oct 2026 01:28.

Cited references
42
With a DOI
34
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
8
3 / 42 (7.1%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
9 / 42 (21.4%)
References with detected author names
33 / 42 (78.6%)
Without detected author names
9
Without a structured title
3
Without a stable identifier
8
References with raw author names still to review
3
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
109
From DOI or external metadata
109
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
3
25 / 109 (22.9%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 84 / 109 (77.1%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
6 / 109 (5.5%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 6 / 25 (24.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 6 / 106 (5.7%).
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