“Just Let Me Try”: Autistic Self-Advocates Redefine Independence

• By: Jamie Arnold MSEd, SBL Eden II Programs
• January 5th, 2026
• adulthood, autonomy, external barriers, independence, self-advocacy, self-determination, supportive relationships, Winter 2026 Issue
• 772    0

For decades, conversations about autism and adulthood have been centered on building independence through goals, interventions, and structured curricula (Bouck & Joshi, 2015). Yet when autistic self-advocates describe independence, they do not speak in terms of compliance, readiness checklists,...