Properties of supportive relationships from the perspective of academically successful individuals with autism.
This qualitative study explored supportive relationships from the perspective of 5 academically successful individuals with autism. To ensure that data were rich and based on personal experience, participants with autism identified between 2 and 4 people with whom they had a successful supportive relationship. The participants in this study identified and described properties within these relationships. Analysis of in-depth interviews and documents using the constant comparative method revealed 6 properties of the successful supportive relationships: trust, intimacy, the presumption of competence, understanding, shared vision of independence, and good communication. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Robledo
Jodi A
JA
University of San Diego, Autism Institute, San Diego, CA 92110, USA. jrobledo@sandiego.edu
Donnellan
Anne M
AM
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D035502:Trust