What do we mean by peer support?
- People on the spectrum supporting each other
- “A good peer is a friend but not all friends are peers”
- Not all autistic people are the same, or may get on (nor should they). They can be peers but may not have the common interests needed to be friends.
- Peers may not be autistic if have a point of connection
What are the most important things about peer support?
- Someone saying “I’m seeing the world the same way you do”
- There is no power imbalance
- Noone is told what to do, there are just suggestions of things that have worked for others
- Honesty of communication is possible
- A facilitator for group sessions – someone to control the dynamics, be consistent, recognise new people in difficulty
- Knowing it’s ok to ask someone to repeat something, and to say you didn’t take anything in rather than just nodding
- People are “more gracious with each others idiosyncracies”
- Not ignoring someone’s stim, recognising it for what it is and accepting it
- Rebuilding self esteem
- Focussed interactions are good
Key issues around peer support
- “Peer support is continually undervalued”
- Initial sessions can be very emotional (anger, tears, distress) and sometimes draining on new members and old members
- There can be an expectation of being able to counsel
- Advocates are taken more seriously when they are being paid to do it
- Some autistic people with a diagnosis feel pushed out when self-identified autistic people join groups
- Peer support groups can benefit from having a proper timetable, newsletter, web presence and regular meetings
- Challenge without admin support
- Can be a lack of safety mechanisms
- Not knowing where to refer on to
