Family Acceptance and Safe Spaces: LGBTQ+ Differences Among Autistic Emerging Adults

Barcelona, Spain · May 2026

Posters · Neurodiversity & Individual Minds

Jessie Greenlee
Lafayette College

Abstract

We examined family acceptance among 211 autistic emerging adults (ages 18-25; 69.5% LGBTQ+). Participants completed the Family Acceptance Rejection Scale and open-ended questions. Friends (41%) and family (37%) were most cited as safe spaces. LGBTQ+ participants reported significantly lower family acceptance than heterosexual/cisgender participants, p<.001, supporting targeted family interventions.

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Family Acceptance and Safe Spaces: LGBTQ+ Differences Among Autistic Emerging Adults

Abstract

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