Many autistic teens want to connect with peers, form friendships, and feel part of a community—but navigating social situations can sometimes feel overwhelming, confusing, or draining. Parents may notice their teen struggling in peer groups, misreading social cues, or avoiding certain environments altogether.

The journey towards developing meaningful social relationships is unique for each autistic person. Self-advocacy skills and social groups are two components that can work together to support the overarching goal of forming meaningful connections. Self-advocacy skills equip autistic individuals to express their needs and preferences effectively, and clinician-facilitated social groups can provide a supportive space for individuals to practice both self-advocacy and social communication skills. Read our blog post to learn more about how these components can work together!

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, we’re highlighting some strengths of autistic individuals and discussing neurodiversity-affirming practices relevant to speech-language pathology.