NEW STUDY FINDS ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS ACROSS EVERYDAY LIFE ARE IMPACTING THE WELLBEING OF AUTISTIC AUSTRALIANS
A new national study by Aspect has found accessibility barriers across healthcare, employment, public transport, retail, education and community activities are having a significant impact on the wellbeing of Autistic Australians. Between 64% and 82% of Autistic adults reported difficulties accessing or using services in every area examined, with more than half saying those experiences had a moderate or large impact on their wellbeing.
The Autistic Community Experiences of Services and Supports in Australia study surveyed 246 participants, including 149 Autistic adults and 97 parents and carers, to better understand how accessible everyday Australia is for Autistic people. Participants reported barriers across an average of more than three areas of everyday life, highlighting the potentially cumulative effect repeated accessibility challenges can have on participation and wellbeing.
Lead researcher Dr Chris Edwards from Aspect’s Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP) said the findings challenge the way access is often understood.
“The issue isn’t simply whether a service exists,” said Dr Edwards. “A doctor’s clinic, workplace, train station or supermarket may all be available, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re accessible for Autistic people.
And it’s the repeated barriers across everyday life that can have a real impact on people’s wellbeing, confidence and participation.
“The research also found accessibility challenges often extended well beyond the moment itself. Participants described spending hours researching suitable services, preparing for appointments, advocating for adjustments and needing time afterwards to recover from everyday experiences others might take for granted.”
Retail emerged as the most challenging setting, with 82% of Autistic adults reporting difficulties in this environment, followed by employment (81%), community activities (72%), education and training, (71%), employment support services (71%), public transport (70%) and healthcare (64%). Participants described challenges ranging from overwhelming sensory environments and inflexible systems to communication barriers and limited autism understanding.
Participants described spending hours, days and sometimes months searching for healthcare providers who could accommodate their needs, while others said routine medical appointments could leave them needing several days to recover.
For many, the cumulative effect of these experiences meant participating less in everyday life. As one parent explained: “My kids have a very simple life, where much of their time is spent at home or school. They would have an enriched life experience, and we could get out more often if accessibility was improved.”
Another participant described cutting back on other activities to save enough energy for essential everyday tasks, “I’ve withdrawn from a lot of things to focus on leaving enough sensory energy for essential tasks.”
Dr Edwards said improving accessibility does not always require major infrastructure or expensive changes.
“Accessibility is about designing everyday environments that people can actually use,” he said. “Clear communication, predictable processes, quieter environments and greater understanding of autism can all make a significant difference.”
The researchers say accessibility should become a routine consideration wherever Australians learn, work, travel, shop, participate in community life and receive healthcare. Rather than expecting Autistic people to continually adapt to environments designed or the majority, the study argues organisations and communities should take greater responsibility for making everyday life accessible for everyone.
The findings come as Australia implements the National Autism Strategy and highlight how reducing the “access burden” experienced by many Autistic people and families could improve participation and wellbeing.
