“I’m Kind of Stuck in the Middle. I Don’t Know Where to Go”: Race, Autism, and Intersectional Stigma Among Black and White Autistic Adults | Autism in Adulthood Background: Autistic adults frequently experience social stigma, which may be compounded by additional marginalized identities such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. Black autistic adults, in particular, may face unique challenges at the intersection of racial bias and autism stigma. However, the experiences of autistic people with intersecting marginalized identities remain underexplored in research, contributing to a limited understanding of stigma’s impact across diverse communities. Methods: We used qualitative methods to explore how intersecting identities shape autistic adults’ experiences of stigma and marginalization, with an emphasis on Black autistic adults. In total, 32 autistic adults (16 Black and 16 White) completed a semi-structured interview regarding their social experiences. Participants shared recent stories of peer exclusion, acceptance, discrimination, and support that they had experienced, as well as their feelings surrounding these events. We recorded and transcribed these interviews and used an inductive, or data-driven, approach to thematic analysis to identify salient themes in the data. Results: We generated three intersectional themes, which encompassed the unique impact of stigma on those with intersecting identities. Specifically, these themes included: (1) identity-based discrimination shaped by race, gender, and LGBTQ+ status; (2) challenges in obtaining and processing an autism diagnosis; and (3) difficulties navigating personal identity, particularly among Black autistic participants. While autistic adults broadly reported stigma experiences, Black participants often described layered forms of exclusion related to both their race and autistic traits. Across racial groups, women and LGBTQ+ participants also reported distinct forms of marginalization and erasure. Conclusion: These findings highlight how autism stigma intersects with other marginalized identities to shape social experiences. Black autistic adults, along with autistic women and LGBTQ+ autistic people, may encounter compounded barriers to acceptance, identity development, and belonging. These results underscore the need for more inclusive research and supports that attend to the diversity of autistic experiences.

Black autistic adults are too often left out of conversations about stigma and autism.

Our new paper shows how stigma is shaped by race, gender, and sexuality, creating unique challenges for Black autistic adults, women, and LGBTQ+ autistic people.

www.liebertpub.com/d...
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Abstract for the paper: Verbal Collaboration in Same- and Mixed-Neurotype Groups of Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults by Sarah Foster et al. As summarized, it reads: Background: Research suggests that some autistic adults communicate more effectively and build stronger rapport with other autistic individuals than with non-autistic people. This suggests that outcomes for autistic people in group settings may depend on the diagnostic composition of the group. Here, we examined verbal collaboration among autistic and non-autistic adults in same- and mixed-neurotype groups during a shared task. Methods: We assigned 136 adults (73 autistic, 63 non-autistic) to 34 four-person groups: all autistic, all non-autistic, majority autistic, or majority non-autistic. Researchers video recorded groups during a 5-minute Jenga tower-building task, and participants reported their rapport with the group. Researchers transcribed and coded the videos for collaborative speech using a validated coding scheme. Results: Preregistered analyses revealed that autistic participants expressed more positive opinions about the group and their own contributions than did non-autistic participants. Non-autistic participants expressed more negative group evaluations and elicited more building ideas. Participants in mixed-neurotype groups directed more negativity toward others than participants in same-neurotype groups. Autistic—but not non-autistic—participants verbalized more negativity in mixed groups. Exploratory correlations revealed links between aspects of collaborative speech and rapport. Discussion: Autistic adults expressed greater overall positivity but expressed more negativity in mixed group settings. These findings support evidence that autistic people often experience better rapport in all-autistic groups and may be more sensitive to mixed group environments than non-autistic people.

DON'T MISS! Verbal Collaboration in Same- & Mixed-Neurotype Groups of Autistic & Non-Autistic Adults by
@sarah-foster.bsky.social et al examined verbal collaboration during a group tower-building task among autistic and non-autistic adults

NEW FREE to Aug 28
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/...

Abstract for the paper: Verbal Collaboration in Same- and Mixed-Neurotype Groups of Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults by Sarah Foster et al. As summarized, it reads: Background: Research suggests that some autistic adults communicate more effectively and build stronger rapport with other autistic individuals than with non-autistic people. This suggests that outcomes for autistic people in group settings may depend on the diagnostic composition of the group. Here, we examined verbal collaboration among autistic and non-autistic adults in same- and mixed-neurotype groups during a shared task. Methods: We assigned 136 adults (73 autistic, 63 non-autistic) to 34 four-person groups: all autistic, all non-autistic, majority autistic, or majority non-autistic. Researchers video recorded groups during a 5-minute Jenga tower-building task, and participants reported their rapport with the group. Researchers transcribed and coded the videos for collaborative speech using a validated coding scheme. Results: Preregistered analyses revealed that autistic participants expressed more positive opinions about the group and their own contributions than did non-autistic participants. Non-autistic participants expressed more negative group evaluations and elicited more building ideas. Participants in mixed-neurotype groups directed more negativity toward others than participants in same-neurotype groups. Autistic—but not non-autistic—participants verbalized more negativity in mixed groups. Exploratory correlations revealed links between aspects of collaborative speech and rapport. Discussion: Autistic adults expressed greater overall positivity but expressed more negativity in mixed group settings. These findings support evidence that autistic people often experience better rapport in all-autistic groups and may be more sensitive to mixed group environments than non-autistic people.

Verbal Collaboration in Same- and Mixed-Neurotype Groups of Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults by @sarah-foster.bsky.social
et al. examined verbal collaboration during a group tower-building task among autistic and non-autistic adults (1/)

NEW FREE to Aug 28

www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/...

JCPP Advances | ACAMH Child Development Journal | Wiley Online Library Background Accounts of emotional dysregulation in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are typically based on external adult observations anchored in neurotypical notions of em...

"experiences & situations that induce negative emotional reactions" in N=57 autistic &/or ADHD 11-15 year-olds, interviews, free acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... quote from an autistic 12 year-old: "When people sum autism up as a negative thing, it makes me feel like I am worthless..."

Visuospatial information transfer and task self-assessment within and between autistic and non-autistic adults Previous research has demonstrated that autistic people transmit verbal information as effectively as non-autistic people; however, when autistic and non-autistic people interact less information is t...

"autistic and non-autistic people did not differ in their ability to share information with others of the same neurotype" but "this study did not find the expected breakdown in information transmission in mixed-neurotype interactions" journals.plos.org/plosone/arti... three-site UK & US study, free

Research team: @noahsasson.bsky.social @cjcrompton.bsky.social @suereviews.bsky.social @michelledodd.bsky.social @rachelcalderon.bsky.social
Siddhi Patel, Charlotte Wilks, Danielle Ropar, & Rob Ackerman

Findings support evidence that autistic people often experience better rapport in all-autistic groups and may be more sensitive to mixed-group environments. These insights can help foster more inclusive environments by informing strategies for more effective collaboration.

Participants in mixed-neurotype groups directed more negativity toward others than participants in same-neurotype groups. Autistic—but not non-autistic—participants verbalized more negativity in mixed groups.

We found that autistic participants expressed more positive opinions about the group and their own contributions than did non-autistic participants. Non-autistic participants expressed more negative group evaluations and elicited more building ideas.

34 four-person groups: all autistic, all non-autistic, majority autistic, or majority non-autistic were video recorded during a 5-minute Jenga tower-building task, and participants reported their rapport with the group. Videos were transcribed and coded for collaborative speech.

New article out today: www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/...

We examined verbal collaboration among autistic and non-autistic adults in same- and mixed-neurotype groups during a shared task.

I love this approach to autism research. The research is carried out by an autistic person and looks at the wider context of both autistic and non autistic communication. This allows us to find better ways to understand each other, rather than presenting autistic people as the sole source of

Autism Researchers’ Rapport Study Refutes Social-Deficit Model Psychology doctoral student Sarah Foster, who is autistic, is the corresponding author of a study that examined four-person group interactions among neurotypical, autistic and mixed groups of individu...

Here's a wonderful news piece about @sarah-foster.bsky.social and the new #autism #doubleempathy study she led about rapport in groups of autistic and non-autistic adults. news.utdallas.edu/health-medic...

New paper alert!

Information transfer within and between autistic and non-autistic people is out today in @nathumbehav.nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41...

THREAD! 🧵⬇️

I love this detail.

During a building activity, both the non-autistic groups & the mixed groups had instances where someone didn’t participate, or someone built a separate tower, or they started over after already beginning.

None of these things happened in the groups of all autistic participants

These findings support the double empathy problem in group contexts and suggest directions for future research.

particularly in enjoyment and friendliness. Overall, autistic participants benefited from interacting in autistic groups and were more sensitive to group composition than non-autistic participants, whose rapport stayed consistent regardless of group composition.

and if diagnostic
differences affect rapport. Groups engaged in a 5-minute building activity and completed a rapport measure. Contrary to the social deficit model, autistic adults reported high rapport in all-autistic groups. These groups showed higher rapport than mixed groups,

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Excited to see our group rapport paper published in Autism: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/.... Thanks to those involved, N. Sasson, C. Crompton, S. Fletcher-Watson, D. Ropar, and others! We explored whether rapport varies across autistic, non-autistic, and mixed groups,

yup... good job, america

Beyond self-regulation: Autistic experiences and perceptions of stimming - Isabelle F Morris, Jesica R Sykes, Emilie R Paulus, Alharith Dameh, Aysha Razzaque, Lauren Vander Esch, Jenna Gruenig, Philip... Repetitive, self-stimulatory behaviors (“stimming”) are a hallmark characteristic of autism. Stimming is thought to aid in self-regulation, but autistic perspec...

New paper: autistic ppl found stimming to be positive when not self-injurious nor stigmatized (latter led to masking). Most felt stimming helped their friendships w/ & connections to other autistics, in part through inferring others’ emotions from their stimming.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

This is a wonderful piece

RFK Jr is an astoundingly cruel man

🙌🙌

I plan another activity for when I’m done engaging in my special interest(s) and that usually motivates me to take a break (at least for a bit).

Autistic academic researching social interactions and stigma 😊

Facial Affect Differences in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults Across Contexts and Their Relationship to First-Impression Formation | Autism in Adulthood Background: Autistic people often receive unfavorable first impressions from non-autistic people, likely because of stigma related to divergent social presentations and expressive behaviors. Although ...

Our new paper out today led by my graduate student Sarah Foster shows that facial expressivity differences in autism are related to less favorable first impressions formed by non-autistic people, particularly in a job interview context.
www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/...

A wee PSA for anyone wanting to use the Autism Research feed on here

To start with, here’s the feed link:

bsky.app/profile/did:...