The COVID-19 pandemic: the experiences of young autistic people and their parents

A study on experiences of lockdown and returning to mainstream school for young autistic people and their families.

2020 was highly unpredictable, and our research highlighted that more needs to be done in understanding the vastly different experiences of the pandemic for autistic children, young people and their families. Our team was proud to be working closely with families in a collaborative venture to gain insight into their unique experiences. We hope that sharing families’ stories can help inform wider strategies to improve their experiences of education, as well as families’ relationships with educators in mainstream schools."

Children on the autism spectrum are particularly vulnerable to being excluded from school. Research has shown that mainstream schools are not always fully sensitised nor equipped to respond to the needs of autistic students. Our research shows that lockdown and transitioning back to school can be difficult, especially when children must work in unfamiliar spaces in uncertain times. These conditions may affect family decision-making and autistic children’s desire for participation in mainstream schooling, leading to potential further exclusions. We must ensure that disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis do not result in rollbacks of the rights they have worked so hard to advance".