‘Are you by chance on the spectrum?’ Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder making sense of their diagnoses

The current phenomenological study aimed to provide a better understanding of how adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identify with and make meaning of their diagnosis through exploration of their disability narratives. In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how adolescents with ASD negotiate the positive and negative aspects of their diagnoses, social discourse surrounding ASD, as well as their own meaning-making process, the current study explored adolescents’ descriptions of ASD and identification with labels of disability. Participants included 10 adolescents with ASD ranging in age from 13 to 20. Three main themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: formation of an ASD narrative; social construction of the label; and confusion regarding whether ASD is a disability. Results of this study indicate the need for reducing social stigma associated with ASD and disability labels.