A Model Program for Increasing Social Opportunities for Adult Women with Autism

Background: Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) consistently demonstrate high rates of social isolation and report few friendships after exiting structured programming such as high school and college (Roux et al., 2017; Orsmond et al., 2013; Orsmond et al., 2004). From the perspective of adults with diagnoses of ASD, barriers to social participation include the lack of social opportunities (Singer, 2013) and difficulties with social information processing (Chamak et al., 2018). For adult women with ASD, an additional challenge is the limited availability of safe, social spaces (Huerta, 2013).

To provide increased social connections and accessible social opportunities for adult women with ASD, a community program was developed based on concepts from Universal Design (Connell et al., 1997) and the TEACCH philosophy (Schopler, 1994). The program design was further informed by feedback from key stakeholders, including self-advocates, and a pilot social group of adult women with ASD.

Objectives: This formative study has three objectives:

1. To describe a novel program model for increasing social opportunities for adult women with autism.
2. To assess the acceptability of the program design based on participant feedback.
3. To examine self-reported challenges to social participation in a sample of adult women with a diagnosis of ASD.

Methods: As part of the program’s yearly review, all participants with active participation plans (N=76) were invited to complete a brief survey and in-person interview led by trained staff. A program-specific questionnaire was used to obtain participant ratings on key elements of the program design. De-identified survey data will be summarized using means and standard deviations. Categorical data will be presented using counts and percentages.

Results: Based on the qualitative data collected to date, participant response to the program has been positive and centered around the increased availability of social activities and greater access to female peers. Participants have also spontaneously described positive, secondary effects of participation including increased adaptive skills and decreased anxiety. Additional data on participant satisfaction and self-reported challenges will be analyzed and presented.

Conclusions: This program represents a unique approach to decreasing social isolation in adults with ASD that does not assume the need for social skills training. Information about self-reported social difficulties will be used to further revise the program model and can inform research efforts on adult autism assessments and measure development.