Empowering Autistic Youth and Adults to Advocate for Mental Health and Social Connection Goals as they Transition to Adulthood

Transition to adulthood is difficult for autistic teens. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can bridge the communication gap that often occurs between autistic youth, their health care providers, and their community. Autistic youth and adults, health care providers, and families were engaged in research discussions to better understand their transition needs from pediatric to primary care. Using qualitative analysis, themes were identified that specifically related to the social connection and mental health needs of autistic youth. Six primary themes emerged, including: (1) helping autistic individuals to feel heard; (2) having providers with more training in autism; (3) having accessible means for communication with new providers; (4) accessing mental health services with autism-informed counseling; (5) educating and empowering autistic youth to advocate for their needs; and (6) facilitating community engagement. Results highlight the importance of neurodiversity-affirming practices for autistic youth and adults. Communication goes both ways and when breakdowns occur, there are usually misunderstandings by both communication partners. As part of an interdisciplinary team, SLPs can facilitate mutual understanding between autistic youth and their non-autistic providers.