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Supporting a 'good life' for autistic children: Autistic adults' and parents' perspectives.

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Title: Supporting a 'good life' for autistic children: Autistic adults' and parents' perspectives.
Authors: Simpson, Kate1 (AUTHOR) k.simpson@griffith.edu.au, Allen, Connie1 (AUTHOR), Wheeley, Elizabeth1 (AUTHOR), Pellicano, Elizabeth2,3 (AUTHOR), Heyworth, Melanie2,4 (AUTHOR), den Houting, Jacquiline2,5 (AUTHOR), Bowen, Rachael6 (AUTHOR), Adams, Dawn1,5 (AUTHOR)
Source: Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice. Apr2026, Vol. 30 Issue 4, p972-982. 11p.
Subject Terms: *Play, *Qualitative research, *Autism, *Parent attitudes, *Quality of life, *Research methodology, *Asperger's syndrome, *Cultural pluralism, Patient autonomy, Research funding, Ecology, Patient psychology, Interviewing, Descriptive statistics, Psychological well-being, Thematic analysis, Sound recordings, Patient-centered care, Videoconferencing, Psychology of parents, Social support, Patients' attitudes
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: There has been limited research into what helps to promote autistic children's quality of life. This qualitative study, co-produced with autistic people, aimed to identify, from multiple perspectives, what helps autistic children to live a 'good life'. We conducted semi-structured interviews with autistic adults (n = 28) and parents of autistic children (n = 29). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified four themes: Being accepted by others in a way that allows the child to be themselves; Finding 'the things that light [the child]'; Having a sense of control over their own life and Physical/sensory environments matter. All themes were common to both autistic adults and parents of autistic children, with the exception of one sub-theme, which was predominantly driven by autistic adults' responses. These findings highlight potential pathways to support autistic children's quality of life now and into the future. There hasn't been much research about what helps autistic children to live a 'good life' or to have a good quality of life. This makes it difficult to know how to help autistic children to do so. In this study, we asked autistic adults and parents of autistic children what they thought helped autistic children to live a 'good life'. They mentioned four important areas. These were (a) autistic children being accepted as their real or true self, (b) autistic children finding the things that they enjoy and that energise them, (c) autistic children having a sense of control in their life and (d) physical environments that suit autistic children's sensory needs. These are things that can be changed in the autistic child's environment to support the autistic child in living a good life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Supporting a 'good life' for autistic children: Autistic adults' and parents' perspectives.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Simpson%2C+Kate%22">Simpson, Kate</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> k.simpson@griffith.edu.au</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Allen%2C+Connie%22">Allen, Connie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wheeley%2C+Elizabeth%22">Wheeley, Elizabeth</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pellicano%2C+Elizabeth%22">Pellicano, Elizabeth</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Heyworth%2C+Melanie%22">Heyworth, Melanie</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22den+Houting%2C+Jacquiline%22">den Houting, Jacquiline</searchLink><relatesTo>2,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bowen%2C+Rachael%22">Bowen, Rachael</searchLink><relatesTo>6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Adams%2C+Dawn%22">Adams, Dawn</searchLink><relatesTo>1,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Autism%3A+The+International+Journal+of+Research+%26+Practice%22">Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 30 Issue 4, p972-982. 11p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Play%22">Play</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism%22">Autism</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+attitudes%22">Parent attitudes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Quality+of+life%22">Quality of life</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asperger's+syndrome%22">Asperger's syndrome</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+pluralism%22">Cultural pluralism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+autonomy%22">Patient autonomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecology%22">Ecology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+psychology%22">Patient psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+well-being%22">Psychological well-being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sound+recordings%22">Sound recordings</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient-centered+care%22">Patient-centered care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Videoconferencing%22">Videoconferencing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+parents%22">Psychology of parents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patients'+attitudes%22">Patients' attitudes</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: There has been limited research into what helps to promote autistic children's quality of life. This qualitative study, co-produced with autistic people, aimed to identify, from multiple perspectives, what helps autistic children to live a 'good life'. We conducted semi-structured interviews with autistic adults (n = 28) and parents of autistic children (n = 29). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified four themes: Being accepted by others in a way that allows the child to be themselves; Finding 'the things that light [the child]'; Having a sense of control over their own life and Physical/sensory environments matter. All themes were common to both autistic adults and parents of autistic children, with the exception of one sub-theme, which was predominantly driven by autistic adults' responses. These findings highlight potential pathways to support autistic children's quality of life now and into the future. There hasn't been much research about what helps autistic children to live a 'good life' or to have a good quality of life. This makes it difficult to know how to help autistic children to do so. In this study, we asked autistic adults and parents of autistic children what they thought helped autistic children to live a 'good life'. They mentioned four important areas. These were (a) autistic children being accepted as their real or true self, (b) autistic children finding the things that they enjoy and that energise them, (c) autistic children having a sense of control in their life and (d) physical environments that suit autistic children's sensory needs. These are things that can be changed in the autistic child's environment to support the autistic child in living a good life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Autism: The International Journal of Research & Practice is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=192433632
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/13623613261418945
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Play
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quality of life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Asperger's syndrome
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural pluralism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient autonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sound recordings
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient-centered care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Videoconferencing
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      – SubjectFull: Psychology of parents
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      – SubjectFull: Social support
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      – SubjectFull: Patients' attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Australia
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      – TitleFull: Supporting a 'good life' for autistic children: Autistic adults' and parents' perspectives.
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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