Positive disability identity development in adults with autism

• Main Author: Gloria, Maria Couline N.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: Autism; Disability studies; Identity (Psychology); Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_psych/62; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_psych/article/1033/viewcontent/Gloria_Positive_Disability_Identity_Development.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The current study looked into positive disability identity formation of adults with autism through identifying disability identities, distinguishing variables that influenced their positive disability identity formation, and recognizing the different parts of the process of developing a positive disability identity formation. Participants (n=8) were adults ages 20 and above who have been diagnosed with autism and all the conditions categorized under the autism spectrum such as PDD-NOS and Asperger’s Syndrome. The positive disability identities that have emerged were person with disability/autistic, role model, multifaceted individual, and faithful. Identified factors that influence positive disability identity formation were religious beliefs, being in the company of others, exposure to unfortunate events, personal traits, having role models with autism, and school. The process of positive disability identity formation was comprised of awareness of one’s diagnosis or differences in comparison to peers, exposure to early intervention, conflict with one’s self or with one’s environment, finding a support system, discernment, and generation.