Short Report on Effectiveness of an Autistic-Delivered Peer Support Program: Preliminary Results.

There is little research on the effectiveness of autistic peer-delivered services. This study examines early outcomes associated with the Community Autism Peer Specialist program (CAPS), which was created in partnership with autistic individuals and is delivered by autistic adults who have received training in the delivery of peer support services to enhance the community functioning of autistic youth and adults. A single group pre-test/post-test design was used to examine early outcomes in the areas of independent living needs, social functioning, service engagement, and quality of life. A total of 23 individuals with autism aged 14-41 years were included in the study. Reductions were found in social functioning impairments and unmet needs after three months in the program. Participants also reported greater engagement in mental health services and activities that promote wellness compared with before the program. This study suggests that peer support services delivered by autistic peers may be an effective intervention approach for autistic youth and adults. Future studies with a more rigorous study design (e.g., randomized controlled trials), a larger sample size, and longer-term outcome measurements are needed to further investigate the effectiveness of CAPS and similar autistic-delivered services.

Autistic-Delivered Peer Support: A Feasibility Study.

Peer support has been an undeveloped pathway for filling the service gap and to generate employment opportunities for autistic individuals. Peer supports have been deployed widely in mental health and among veterans and understanding the utility of this service modality among autistic individuals illuminates opportunities for research, policy, and practice. This study examined characteristics of participants in an autistic-delivered peer support program and reports on use of and satisfaction with the program. Half of autistic participants had a co-occurring mental health diagnosis. Participants reported multiple areas of unmet needs and participant satisfaction with the program was high (90%). The findings of this study point toward autistic-delivered peer support as a promising avenue for future development.