Exploring Experiences of Autistic Parents: A Qualitative Perspective

Autistic adults face unique challenges in diagnosis and parenting compared to non-autistic individuals, which are often intensified by stigma and discrimination rooted in unfounded assumptions of their parenting abilities (Pohl et al., 2020). In addition, the diagnostic process in adulthood can be emotionally and systemically challenging leading to increased stress and uncertainty (de Broize et al., 2022), while the disclosure process following diagnosis can complicate relationships and reinforce harmful misconceptions of parenting abilities (Radev et al., 2023). Biases can limit the creation of autism-specific parenting supports, increase discrimination from professionals and negatively impact parent-child relationships, highlighting the need to better understand and support autistic parents. Nine autistic parents, recruited from Canadian autism service agencies and online autistic-led communities, completed surveys and participated in a one-on-one semi-structured interview. Parents discussed their experiences with the autism diagnosis process, their perceptions of how the diagnosis impacted their parenting and their diagnosis disclosure experiences with loved ones, acquaintances and professionals. Findings revealed many parents identified as autistic through their child’s diagnostic process leading to validation, grief and increased self-understanding, in turn leading to reduced masking and better advocacy skills. Disclosure decisions were often shaped by fear of stigma and desires to protect their children, and was common with spouses, friends and children but mixed with their parents and workplaces. Positive reactions to disclosure led to relief and negativity led to distress. The findings highlighted a need for autism-specific parenting services to reduce stigma and improve outcomes for autistic parents and families.