Experiencing Independence: Perspectives from Autistic Adults

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

About the autistic author marker

Bhattacharya, P., Matthews, R., Field, R., Heath, H., Woodcock, K., & Surtees, A. (2025). Experiencing Independence: Perspectives from Autistic Adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06812-0

Publication date: 3 Apr 2025 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)

Abstract

Autism diagnostic criteria relate to difficulties in functioning across multiple developmental domains, that often impact on a person's independence. There are different ways to conceptualise and exercise independence, but no previous studies have questioned how autistic adults do so. This qualitative study aimed to understand how autistic adults define and experience independence. It was designed to further our understanding of how autistic adults account for and use coping strategies to overcome barriers to independent living and navigate their way to their desired level of independence. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with autistic adults living in the United Kingdom. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The researchers generated three major themes. The first theme 'Independence is "not a one-size-fits-all"' highlights that there is no one definition or concept of independence for autistic people; these are relative and uniquely individual. The second theme '"Being autistic has its setbacks" in a neurotypical world' describes the obstacles encountered by autistic adults seeking independence within a society that favours neurotypical norms. The third theme 'Finding ways of making it work' captures strategies autistic adults use in achieving or maintaining independence. The findings from this study provide a foundation for future research exploring domains of independence for autistic adults. The perceived desirability of achieving different degrees of in(ter)dependence and the fluctuating nature of self-sufficiency are explored through lived experience. Increasing understanding of barriers and challenges to independence has the potential to empower autistic adults and improve services and support.

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: 2 Oct 2026 16:12.

Cited references
94
With a DOI
89
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
4
26 / 94 (27.7%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
5 / 94 (5.3%)
References with detected author names
89 / 94 (94.7%)
Without detected author names
5
Without a structured title
4
Without a stable identifier
4
References with raw author names still to review
5
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
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
315
From DOI or external metadata
315
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
9
162 / 315 (51.4%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 153 / 315 (48.6%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
49 / 315 (15.6%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 49 / 162 (30.2%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 36 / 280 (12.9%).
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