Strategies for developing interactional expertise: how non-autistic communication partners enable or block the effective contributions to significant conversations by autistic people

Decades of communication research have focused on the so-called “deficits” of autistic people and on interventions to remediate these. This study takes a different perspective in line with the neurodiversity paradigm to examine what non-autistic communication partners do to enable or undermine the ability of autistic people to think and to contribute their own knowledge and ideas to the conversation. In-depth, longitudinal case studies of the communication exchanges between three autistic women and two autistic men and their chosen, non-autistic communication partners (one man and six women) were undertaken over 4–12 months via semi-structured interviews, observation, reflective conversations, and diary records. Conversation transcripts were analysed thematically to identify the communication of the non-autistic participants as broadly helpful (“grease” or “flow”) or unhelpful (“blocks”). Sub-themes included how to optimise engagement, respond to disengagement, build shared understanding, and provide prompts at the right time. Interrupting, giving ideas and asking unhelpful questions often functioned as a block to thinking and contribution to the conversation. The “grease” and “blocks” identified could provide a powerful and timely reframing for the focus of autism communication training towards promoting interactional expertise, especially for anyone involved in important consultation with autistic people. This study explores how a non-autistic communication partner may develop interactional expertise in supporting autistic people to contribute what they think and know to conversationsHelpful strategies were identified and used by non-autistic communication partners, enabling autistic participants to feel able to think and explore their ideas, and to feel listened to and understoodNon-autistic partners learned how to avoid having a negative impact on the thinking and contribution of an autistic person in conversationThe findings of this study may inform “communication partner training” for those who support autistic people in their everyday lives and in health and social care decision-making This study explores how a non-autistic communication partner may develop interactional expertise in supporting autistic people to contribute what they think and know to conversations Helpful strategies were identified and used by non-autistic communication partners, enabling autistic participants to feel able to think and explore their ideas, and to feel listened to and understood Non-autistic partners learned how to avoid having a negative impact on the thinking and contribution of an autistic person in conversation The findings of this study may inform “communication partner training” for those who support autistic people in their everyday lives and in health and social care decision-making