Social Skills Through an Autistic Lens: A Qualitative Analysis of Young Adults' Insights and Experiences

Navigating social interactions and developing effective communication strategies can pose unique hurdles for autistic people, impacting their overall well-being. This article presents a qualitative study of autistic young adults' understanding of social skills. Social skills programs are also explored. The primary researcher conducted five semi-structured focus groups with 18 participants in total, aged 18-30 (11 men, 7 women). Our analysis adopts a qualitative approach, utilising thematic analyses. Through inductive thematic analysis we identified four key themes: (1) Social divide between neurotypes, (2) Conscious efforts in social interaction, (3) Adverse social experiences, and (4) Balancing authenticity and social adaptation in social skills programs. Participants emphasised the importance of choice and an individualised approach regarding support. While expressing a desire to develop various social skills, many participants embraced their identity and desired to improve self-advocacy. There is a need for tailored and individualised approaches in social skills programs, acknowledging the diverse experiences of autistic people. Additionally, choice and autonomy are important, aligning with the desire for self-advocacy.