Experiencing COVID-19 on the spectrum: perceptions of healthcare access among autistic adults during a global pandemic and implications for social workers

The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) required substantial changes in socialization to mitigate the spread of the virus. Stay-at-home and social distancing mandates required changes in work, school, and healthcare access for autistic adults. This qualitative online netnographic study utilized a public online forum to examine 1,102 posts detailing the experiences of COVID-19 by autistic adults from March 2020 to December 2020. We found two main themes related to seeking behavioral health services and seeking support related to service delays and barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications for social work practice and supporting autistic people in navigating healthcare access are discussed.

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