‘Why are we an ignored group?’: mainstream educational experiences and current life satisfaction of adults on the autism spectrum from an online survey
‘Why are we an ignored group?’: mainstream educational experiences and current life satisfaction of adults on the autism spectrum from an online survey
Adults on the autism spectrum are significantly under-represented in research on educational interventions and support, such that little is known about their views and experiences of schooling and how this prepared them for adult life. In addition, ‘good outcomes’ in adult life are often judged according to normative assumptions and tend not to include the views of adults on the autism spectrum directly. This study reports the findings from an online survey that sought the views of adults on the autism spectrum about their current life satisfaction as well as their views about school. 55 respondents, most of whom attended mainstream schools and were diagnosed later in life, completed the survey. Respondents were least satisfied with their current employment situation and most satisfied with personal relationships and friendships. More than half of the group said they had friends that they know or meet on the internet. Overall, there was a significant positive correlation between experiences at school and ratings of current life satisfaction, with the younger respondents being generally more positive about the support they had received. There was substantial individual variation in responses also, demonstrating the importance of understanding and respecting personal views, circumstances and aspirations.
397-421
Parsons, Sarah
5af3382f-cda3-489c-a336-9604f3c04d7d
2015
Parsons, Sarah
5af3382f-cda3-489c-a336-9604f3c04d7d
Parsons, Sarah
(2015)
‘Why are we an ignored group?’: mainstream educational experiences and current life satisfaction of adults on the autism spectrum from an online survey.
International Journal of Inclusive Education, 19 (4), .
(doi:10.1080/13603116.2014.935814).
Abstract
Adults on the autism spectrum are significantly under-represented in research on educational interventions and support, such that little is known about their views and experiences of schooling and how this prepared them for adult life. In addition, ‘good outcomes’ in adult life are often judged according to normative assumptions and tend not to include the views of adults on the autism spectrum directly. This study reports the findings from an online survey that sought the views of adults on the autism spectrum about their current life satisfaction as well as their views about school. 55 respondents, most of whom attended mainstream schools and were diagnosed later in life, completed the survey. Respondents were least satisfied with their current employment situation and most satisfied with personal relationships and friendships. More than half of the group said they had friends that they know or meet on the internet. Overall, there was a significant positive correlation between experiences at school and ratings of current life satisfaction, with the younger respondents being generally more positive about the support they had received. There was substantial individual variation in responses also, demonstrating the importance of understanding and respecting personal views, circumstances and aspirations.
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Published date: 2015
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Local EPrints ID: 365706
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/365706
ISSN: 1360-3116
PURE UUID: bb804739-5ed3-4f96-b66a-15ee7287cbc1
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Date deposited: 13 Jun 2014 13:18
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:38
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