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New study explores how autistic adults use non-human supports for wellbeing
Author
Date 4 April 2025
A new autistic-led project, Autistic Supports for Comfort, Care, and Connection, reveals the everyday and creative ways autistic adults use objects, services, and creatures to support their wellbeing.
Conducted by Dr Megan Rose, research fellow, and Prof Deborah Lupton, from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society at UNSW, the study interviewed 12 autistic Australians about the non-human supports they rely on for entertainment, social connection, special interests, burnout recovery, sensory challenges, and overall wellbeing.
Participants also imagined their ideal new support system tailored to their needs.
To visually represent these experiences, autistic graphic illustrator Sarah Firth was commissioned to create unique ‘portraits’ of each participant. Using anonymised interview transcripts, Sarah crafted illustrations that depict the challenges, coping strategies, and special interests of each individual—without ever seeing or meeting them.
The resulting booklet combines these portraits with lay-language participant narratives, offering a powerful and personal look at how autistic people engage with non-human supports in their daily lives.
“Importantly, this is an autistic-led project with a strengths-based approach. Megan and I wanted to focus on identifying not only the challenges faced by autistic people, but also the amazingly inventive ways they made their lives more comfortable and joyful,” Professor Lupton said.
Watch the online report launch on Youtube Autism Supports for Comfort, Care and Connection
View the publication Autistic Supports for Comfort, Care, and Connection
Watch the documentary Non-Human Supports Used by Autistic People for Connection, Health and Wellbeing
