Stone Beth, Cameron Ailsa, Dowling Sandra
University of Bristol, UK.
Autism. 2023 Feb;27(2):489-499. doi: 10.1177/13623613221105091. Epub 2022 Jun 25.
Recent research suggests many autistic people experience homelessness. However, little is known about the types of homelessness autistic people experience and what barriers autistic people face when trying to exit homelessness. This study involved gathering life stories of autistic people who had experienced homelessness. Ten autistic participants talked about their pathways through homelessness and the difficulties they had in accessing support. After first becoming homeless, participants tended to experience rough sleeping and sofa surfing. When participants approached housing and homelessness services, they were often told they were not eligible for support. This could happen when support workers were not aware of autism, or when autism was not considered 'severe' enough. Overcrowding, confrontation and lack of control over routine and environment were particular issues for participants when they entered homelessness hostels. Some participants chose to sleep on the streets rather than stay in environments which increased social anxiety and sensory difficulties. This study discusses ways in which homelessness and housing services can increase accessibility and improve engagement for autistic people. It is important to increase awareness of autism while understanding that autistic people who experience homelessness may have complex needs. In addition, services need to listen to autistic people with lived experience of homelessness to decide what changes will have the most impact.
近期研究表明，许多自闭症患者会经历无家可归的状况。然而，对于自闭症患者所经历的无家可归类型，以及他们在试图摆脱无家可归状态时面临哪些障碍，我们却知之甚少。这项研究包括收集有过无家可归经历的自闭症患者的生活故事。十名自闭症参与者讲述了他们无家可归的经历以及在获得支持方面遇到的困难。首次无家可归后，参与者往往会经历露宿街头和借住他人沙发的情况。当参与者向住房和无家可归者服务机构求助时，他们常常被告知没有资格获得支持。这种情况可能发生在服务人员不了解自闭症，或者认为自闭症“严重”程度不够的时候。当参与者进入无家可归者收容所时，过度拥挤、冲突以及对日常生活和环境缺乏掌控尤其成问题。一些参与者选择露宿街头，也不愿待在会加剧社交焦虑和感官不适的环境中。这项研究探讨了无家可归者服务机构和住房服务机构如何提高对自闭症患者的可及性并改善与他们的互动。在了解到经历无家可归的自闭症患者可能有复杂需求的同时，提高对自闭症的认识很重要。此外，服务机构需要倾听有过无家可归经历的自闭症患者的意见，以确定哪些改变会产生最大影响。
