For autistic persons by autistic persons: Acceptability of a structured peer support service according to key stakeholders

Valderrama, A., Martínez, A., Charlebois, K., Guerrero, L., & d’Arc, B. F. (2022). For autistic persons by autistic persons: Acceptability of a structured peer support service according to key stakeholders. Health Expectations, 26(1), 463-475. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13680

Publication date: 29 Nov 2022 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
5
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 5 (20.0%)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Social support is a protective factor in the mental health of autistic people. Furthermore, prejudice regarding autistic people is a constraint for the development of social support programmes by autistic peers. METHODS: The objective of this study is to describe the anticipated acceptability of structured peer support programmes for and by autistic persons. Fifteen key stakeholders (six autistic adults, four caregivers and five service providers) participated in in-depth semistructured interviews. A qualitative thematic analysis of the content of the verbatim was carried out. FINDINGS: We found that while a structured peer social support programme is acceptable to autistic people and caregivers, there was no consensus among service providers. The latter expressed doubts about the ability of autistic people to offer support. The framing of discussions between peers, the training of peer helpers, the support for autistic leadership and an organization that considers the communicational and sensory characteristics of autistic persons, could influence adherence to such a programme. Moreover, a space without service providers is an important condition for the acceptability of a peer support programme. CONCLUSION: A structured peer support service for and by autistic persons could be an innovative way to answer the unmet support needs of autistic people. It seems essential to anticipate potential barriers and facilitators and to communicate among health professionals to promote this approach and reduce possible prejudice about the ability of autistic people to offer support to their peers. More studies are necessary. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Fifteen key stakeholders who are involved in autistic people's trajectory of service and support participated in this research. We are a research team composed of healthcare professionals and researchers, in addition to one member of our team being an autistic advocate and a mental health peer-support mentor. Two members of our team are also parents of autistic children. The comprehensibility of the questions for the interview was consulted and discussed with one autistic advocate-collaborator.

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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
64
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
10 / 64 (15.6%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
13 / 245 (5.3%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 13 / 74 (17.6%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 11 / 234 (4.7%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
74 / 245 (30.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 65 / 234 (27.8%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
61 / 74 (82.4%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 61 / 245 (24.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 54 / 65 (83.1%).
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