Addressing Stigma-Related Health Disparities for Autistic Individuals Through Cultural Competemility: Insights from Research and Lived Experience

Abstract

Purpose of Review Autistic individuals experience disproportionate stigma across the life course in interpersonal, healthcare, and educational contexts. These experiences contribute to negative health and healthcare outcomes for this population. This paper seeks to describe autistic individuals’ experiences of stigma and marginalization; discuss frameworks such as Campinha-Bacote's innovative concept of cultural competemility and its relevance to autistic populations; offer recommendations to healthcare providers based on this framework; and apply theory to practice in a case study. Recent Findings Autistic individuals increasingly understand autism as an important aspect of their identity. There are, however, few culturally informed healthcare efforts that reflect this understanding. As a result, efforts to address stigma-related health disparities for this population have limited effectiveness. Summary In this manuscript, we highlight opportunities within clinical encounters, medical training, healthcare offices and systems, and research to provide higher quality culturally informed care to autistic populations and address stigma-related health disparities.