“I’ve Changed Most of the Things I Wanted to Change”: A Narrative Inquiry on the Lived Experiences of a Young Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research on the developmental stages of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) provides valuable insights and guidance abut ASD for both families and professionals. As a follow-up to Gulec-Aslan et al., (2013), a previous study, this narrative inquiry aims to explore the experiences of an individual with ASD during young adulthood. The participants in this study are a young adult with ASD and his mother. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a research diary, and were analyzed using restorying and thematic analysis. This process revealed the following themes: “Me, My Life, and My Autism,” “Social Life Experiences,” “Work Life Experiences,” “Pandemic Experiences,” and “Expectations.” The findings indicate that while the participant still exhibits several characteristics associated with ASD, he has shown significant improvement over time in coping with challenges and is progressing toward independent adulthood with meaningful gains.