Brief Report: Autism Knowledge and Stigma in University and Community Samples

Increased public understanding of autism may lead to better access to services and participation in the community for individuals with autism. The goal of this study was to explore autism understanding and stigma among university students, and general community members recruited at a state fair. Participants between 18 and 79 years of age (n=478) completed the Autism Stigma and Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q; Harrison et al., Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 47(10):3281-3295, 2017). All ASK-Q means fell within the adequate knowledge range, indicating relatively high levels of autism knowledge and low levels of stigma. ASK-Q scores were correlated with gender, education, and self-ratings of understanding but not age. The results of this study suggest the need for continued inquiry into metrics that indicate autism understanding and stigma.