ERIC Number: EJ1473880
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Available Date: 0000-00-00
I Was Hanging in the Air and Holding on Tight. It's Exhausting: An Autistic Perspective on Their Journey through the General School System
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v29 n6 p1483-1496 2025
Enrollment of autistic children in general schools has increased significantly in the past decade. However, having access to school does not mean being included in school. Autistic individuals' perspectives regarding their general school experience are limited, with most research focusing on the middle-school stage. This study examines the retrospective experiences of 10 autistic individuals, aged 19-25 years, who attended general schools from elementary through high school. Using semi-structured interviews and the pictorial 'Blob Tree' technique as a visual method to elicit self-narratives, the research revealed recurring themes associated with each educational level. Elementary school was marked by feelings of difference and ambiguity. Middle school was characterised by the impact of the autism diagnosis and emotions of instability. It was found, however, that high school represented a turning point, marked by increased self-assurance, acceptance of their autism and a sense of fulfilment. These findings underscore the importance of offering autistic individuals opportunities to share their narratives and to provide insights into their longitudinal experience in general schools. This emphasises the developmental journey of these students, highlighting the challenges they face at each stage and the growing need for increased inclusivity in general schools to better support autistic students.
Descriptors: Student Experience, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Students with Disabilities, Elementary Secondary Education, Student Attitudes, Psychological Patterns, Foreign Countries, Young Adults, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, High School Students, Individual Development, Clinical Diagnosis, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Self Concept, Adjustment (to Environment)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1The MOFET Institute, Israel; 2Department of Special Education, Beit-Berl Academic College, Kfar-Saba, Israel