Neurodiversity in Practice: How Providers Understand and Support Autistic Clients

To expand access to service providers and evidence based practices (EBPs) for autistic individuals beyond those who are already motivated to support this client population, the approach to training should be informed by the perspectives of those who present with a range of attitudes toward working with autistic clients. The proposed project aims to (1) understand the factors that are related to the development of attitudes toward working with autistic clients, (2) how those attitudes are related to the willingness to learn new EBPs, and (3) the training preferences for clinicians who are hesitant to work with autistic clients or learn new EBPs. By investigating how clinicians make decisions about working with autistic clients, this project seeks to inform the development of targeted strategies that increase the availability of evidence-based mental health care of autistic people with co-occurring mental health care needs.

Any individual who provides mental health services.

Participants will complete an online survey through REDCap.

This study will help inform areas of need as well as implementation factors that are important to consider in supporting clinicians to provide effective services for autistic individuals.