Prof Mark Brosnan from the University of Bath’s Centre for Applied Autism Research (CAAR) will be speaking at our conference on 18 September 2019, talking about how service providers can make alcohol support more autism-friendly.
Autism is defined in terms of difficulties with social communication and interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests and activities, or sensory issues. One of the effects of drinking alcohol is that it often makes us feel more sociable. So, how does drinking alcohol impact upon someone who has a condition defined by social difficulties?
Research by the Centre for Applied Autism Research (CAAR) at the University of Bath and Alcohol Change UK looked to explore the potential relationship between autism and alcohol, with two online studies: one for the autistic community, and one for alcohol service providers.
The survey for the autistic community was developed for those who drink alcohol and those who don’t, to try and capture the broadest range of alcohol-related experiences. We asked questions about people’s expectations of drinking alcohol and their motivations. The second survey explored how autism-friendly alcohol service providers perceived their service to be.
The results of the surveys were then discussed with members of the autism community at the Promoting Autistic Wellbeing event held at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea, in April this year. This culminated in a list of ‘top tips’ for making services autism-friendly. Here are just some of them:
