Why

Autistic Community Experiences of Services and Supports in Australia (ACCESS Australia) is a research project exploring how accessible everyday services and places are for Autistic people in Australia.

Many Autistic people and families say they face challenges when using services such as healthcare, transport, employment services, shops, restaurants, education and community activities. At the moment, there is no national information that shows how common these challenges are or how they affect wellbeing.

By hearing directly from Autistic adults and from parents or caregivers of Autistic people, this study will help show what is working well and where changes are needed. The findings will help guide future improvements so services and environments across Australia can be more accessible and inclusive for Autistic people of all ages.

How accessible are everyday services and places are for Autistic people in Australia?

Who can take part?

You can take part if you:

• are an Autistic adult (self-identified or formally identified), or

• are a parent or caregiver of an Autistic person (of any age)

• live in Australia

• feel comfortable answering questions about experiences with services and community settings in the past 12 months.

Some people may be eligible in more than one way. For example, if you are an Autistic adult and also a parent of an Autistic person, you are welcome to complete the survey separately for each perspective.

What does taking part involve?

• Completing an anonymous online survey

• The survey takes about 10–30 minutes

• You can skip any questions and stop at any time

Making a difference

By sharing your experiences, you can help build a national picture of accessibility for Autistic people in Australia. This research aims to inform future policies, services, and practices so everyday environments better support Autistic people and their families.

Research team

• Dr Chris Edwards: Griffith University and ARCAP
• Dr Abigail Love: ARCAP
• Dr Ru Ying Cai: ARCAP
• Dr Vicki Gibbs: ARCAP
• A/Prof Gail Alvares: The Kids Research Institute Australia
• A/Prof Iliana Magiati: University of Western Australia

Funding

Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia)

Ethics approval

Griffith University Ref No: 2025/950