Building Pride in Autistic Teens Through Group Work

Researchers wanted to test if a group program could help autistic teens feel proud of who they are. They built the program together with eight autistic teenagers who shared their ideas.

Sixteen autistic adolescents aged thirteen to sixteen joined the study, along with their caregivers. The group included ten girls, five boys and one non‑binary teen. The program ran for six weeks.

Before and after the sessions the teens filled out questionnaires about self‑esteem, wellbeing and how strongly they identified as autistic. The researchers also tracked attendance, drop‑out rates and gathered feedback to see if the program was easy to run and enjoyable.

Almost everyone stayed – only about six percent left the program. Participants said they liked the content and the facilitators. They highlighted the value of sharing experiences, feeling socially connected and having sessions that could adapt to their needs. The findings suggest this co‑designed approach can work in clinical settings and may support a positive identity after diagnosis.

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