If You Want to Develop an Effective Autism Training, Ask Autistic Students to Help You

• In Event: Autism: Perspectives, Practices, and Professional Development

Abstract

Prior research has demonstrated that autistic university students face stigma. We developed two autism trainings: a participatory training (developed in collaboration with autistic students) and a non-participatory training. We conducted an evaluation of these trainings with undergraduates in the US and Lebanon. A first study revealed improvements in implicit and explicit stigma and autism knowledge associated with both trainings, but no benefit of the participatory training in particular. After we removed the measure of implicit stigma, a follow-up study revealed that the participatory training was more effective than the non-participatory training at improving autism knowledge and explicit stigma. These studies provide empirical support for the oft cited, but rarely directed tested, benefits of involving autistic people in research about autism.

Authors

• Kristen Gillespie-Lynch, College of Staten Island

• Rita Obeid, Case Western Reserve University

• Jennifer Bisson

• Sabine Saade

• Nichols Tricarico, College of Staten Island

• Bella Kofner

• Ashley Johnson Harrison

• Billy Pinkava, College of Staten Island