Recognizing Past and Present Experiences: Toward a Person-Oriented and Trauma-Informed Approach to Autism Research

Abstract

This paper draws on a Person-Oriented Research Ethics model in conjunction with a Trauma-Informed Approach to suggest a methodological framework and provide practical recommendations to guide research involving autistic people. Adverse and traumatic experiences are common in autism, and they add to autistic persons’ vulnerability in research. Participation in research can lead to further harm and re-traumatization if appropriate care is not taken to mitigate this possibility. Accordingly, this work analyzes the potential influences and ethical implications of negative experiences and traumatic histories for the autism research process. It also demonstrates the importance of adding a trauma-informed lens to a Person-Oriented Research Ethics model in research involving autistic individuals. Despite the high prevalence of trauma in autism, research addressing the implementation of a Trauma-Informed Approach or emphasizing the significance of applying trauma-informed principles to autism research remains notably scarce and overlooked.

Keywords

• autism
• adults
• research ethics
• trauma
• trauma-informed approach
• person-oriented research ethics