What makes home environments favorable to independence: perspectives of autistic people and their parents

Abstract

Purpose

Few autistic adolescents and adults manage to integrate a home that enables them to fully exercise their independence, even if that is a desire shared by many of them. Creating residential environments that are favorable to their independence at home is a promising, yet poorly explored, avenue. The aim of this study conducted in Québec (Canada) is to identify the main environmental factors influencing their independence at home from the perspectives of autistic people and their parents.

Materials and methods

The walking interview method was used to collect the perspectives of 10 dyads composed of an autistic person and at least one of their parents.

Results

Participants identified several factors, including: (a) support from parents, (b) support from extended social network, (c) a physical environment that meets one’s needs, (d) clear time indicators, (e) opportunities to perform life habits in other settings, and (f) support from professionals. They also gave many examples of concrete ways to implement these factors at home and suggested elements to consider when modifying the home environment.

Conclusions

The results emphasize the need to involve both autistic people and their parents during the evaluation and implementation of these factors to optimize their benefits.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Modifying the residential environments of autistic people is a promising way to foster their independence at home.

• The environmental factors of supportive home environments identified in this study can be used as a starting point when designing home environments for autistic people.

• As the needs and preferences of autistic people vary, they must be involved in the selection and the implementation of modifications in their home environments.

• Parents have a key role to play to support the development of their youth’s independence at home.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• adult
• autism
• environmental factor
• qualitative research
• independent living
• family

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank Alexia Vincent for the validation of the analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Institut universitaire en déficience intellectuelle et en trouble du spectre de l’autisme; the Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec; the Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec; the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council; and the Fonds de recherche Inclusion sociale.