April Hargreaves

Jun 30, 2023 | frontiersin.org | April Hargreaves |Elaine Stasiulis |Amanda Webster

1. IntroductionSelf-determination refers to one’s ability to act as the causal agent in one’s life, to have the capacity to choose and to have choices regarding one’s quality of life free from undue external influence or interference (1–3). Self-determination is a fundamental human right, regardless of disability, as confirmed in the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (4, 5) p. and ratified by Canada in 2011.

Jun 30, 2023 | frontiersin.org | April Hargreaves |Ashley Harrison

1. IntroductionAutistic adults are a marginalized group of people that experiences discrimination and stigma (1, 2). Like other marginalized populations, these factors lead to poor outcomes in health, education, employment, quality of life, and community inclusion (3–7). However, researchers, clinicians, and educators—as well as the general public—usually frame autism itself as the poor outcome rather than Autistic people as a disparity group (8, 9).