“I tried so hard to be normal… that I ended up exhausting myself.”: Forms of social exclusion experienced by young autistic adults

Sante Ment Que. 2026 Spring-Summer;51(2):305-331.

ABSTRACT

Introduction Autistic people are particularly at risk of experiencing forms of violence, ostracism or discrimination, which lead to social exclusion in the course of their lives. However, very little research has addressed social exclusion from its subjective dimensions (e.g. attitudes, opinions, social representations and self-perception) and the relational contexts in which these experiences take shape and affect well-being and mental health. This article presents the results of qualitative research conducted with young autistic adults in Quebec who took part in asynchronous online discussion groups. It aims to identify the forms of social exclusion shared by the participants to better understand the relational contexts in which these experiences take place. Method Four asynchronous online focus groups were conducted with 23 autistic adults living in Quebec and aged 19 to 31 (average: 24). They all have received a professional diagnosis of autism. For nearly 3 weeks, open-ended questions were asked on a specific topic. A qualitative analysis using open coding was conducted. Results: The results show 4 main sources of exclusion mentioned by the participants: microaggressions, discrimination, victimization and constraints on self-determination. Social exclusion takes place in a variety of relational contexts, in which the entourage and formal services are sometimes seen as supports, sometimes as sources of vulnerability. Strategies of concealment, self-exclusion and camouflage appear to be ways of preventing exclusion, to the detriment of well-being. Discussion Five avenues for improvement in clinical and reception practices in general services are identified: 1. Develop service delivery practices in general and specialized services that are sensitive to the characteristics and needs of autistic people; 2. Adopt a trauma-informed approach and promote environments that support recovery; 3. Improve the flexibility of services and intervention methods in response to the needs expressed by autistic people; 4. Continue awareness-raising efforts to promote greater social acceptance of autism and neurodiversity in schools and the workplace; 5. Establish cross-sectoral collaborations between the education, employment, health, and social services sectors, involving user groups and advocacy organizations, to contribute to the development of truly inclusive practices.

PMID:42550446