Promoting Autism Acceptance Through “Understanding Friends on the Autism Spectrum” Webinar for University Students

With the rising prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), more students with ASD are being educated at the university level in Indonesia. In order to create an inclusive and supportive educational environment, it is crucial to promote autism acceptance among their peers. Autism acceptance promotes understanding and respect for neurodiversity, helping to combat the stigma and discrimination that autistic individuals may face in academic and social settings. This study described university students’ knowledge and perception of ASD after participating in the “Understanding Friends on the Autism Spectrum” webinar. The 2-hour webinar discussed two main topics: getting to know more about ASD and optimizing support for individuals with ASD. Data were gathered from 80 student participants responding to post-event survey questions. The result indicated that the participants had an increased knowledge and acceptance of ASD after the webinar. The practical implications of this study will be discussed.