Meeting the Needs of Autistic 
Survivors 

October 20th, 2020 
Max Barrows, Green Mountain Self-Advocates 
Kaitlin Shetler, Vera Institute of Justice 



At the end of this webinar, you will know: 

• 
What barriers Autistic survivors face when 
seeking healing services 
• 
How service providers can better meet the 
needs of Autistic survivors 
• 
What types of accommodations are helpful 
for Autistic survivors 
• 
What considerations to undertake when 
communicating with Autistic survivors 

First, a note on language… 

We are making the choice to use identity-first 
language in this webinar (Autistic survivors 
rather than survivors with Autism) – here’s why! 



Let’s start at the beginning! 

• 
We know that people with disabilities are 
victimized as rates much higher than 
people without disabilities. 
• 
For example, people with intellectual 
disabilities (which sometimes includes 
Autistic people) are 7x more likely to be 
sexually assaulted 
• 
No specific data on victimization of Autistic 
people 

General Considerations for Serving 
Survivors with Disabilities 

• Access 
• Barriers 
• Communication 
• Staff comfort and capacity 
• Accommodations 

Universal Design 

• 
Usable 
• 
Accessible 
• 
Inclusive 
Universal design takes into 
consideration all needs, thus 
creating something accessible to 
most people. 

Even if someone chooses not to 
disclose their disability or 
victimization, they will still receive 
accessible, safe, and comprehensive 
services. 



Considering Needs of Autistic 
Survivors 

• 
Communication 
• 
Physical Environment 
• 
Social Environment 
• 
Stimming 
• 
Accommodations 
• 
Social Stories 
• 
Visual Supports 

Effective Communication 

• 
Clear 
• 
No figures of speech 
• 
Direct 
• 
Plain language (in some cases) 
• 
Visual prompts 
• 
Definitions 
• 
Numbered lists 
• 
Expectations 

Environment 

9

Masking and Implications 

Masking (v.): artificially ‘performing’ social 
behavior that is deemed to be more 
‘neurotypical’ or hiding behavior that might 
be viewed as socially unacceptable. 

10

Trauma Response 

11

Barriers Created by Service 
Providers 

• 
Inaccessible services 
• 
Poor communication 
• 
Assumptions 
• 
Stigma 

Addressing Barriers 

• 
Materials in plain language 
• 
Visual prompts 
• 
Fidget and stim devices 
• 
Low lighting 
• 
Low distraction or distraction free 
• 
Planned transitions 
• 
Social stories 
• 
Culturally responsive 

Other Suggestions 

• 
Hire Autistic professionals 
• 
Consult with Autistic led organizations and 
agencies 
• 
Trauma-informed trainings for staff 
• 
Evaluate barriers and accessibility 
• 
Partner with other organizations to 
coordinate services 

Interview with Max 



Questions? 

Kaitlin Shetler 

kshetler@vera.org 

Max Barrows 

max@gmsavt.org 



Survey 

Please take a few minutes to complete a 
survey on your experience. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SG377YS