Co-designing methods with autistic students to facilitate discussions of sensory preferences with school staff: exploring the double empathy problem

ABSTRACT Reviews have called for the greater involvement of autistic young people in developing methods for eliciting their views. Methodologically, co-design is important for developing credible and acceptable approaches; conceptually and practically, co-design offers a means through which to address the double empathy problem for research and practice, which states that autistic people have difficulties understanding the perspectives and communication of non-autistic people, and vice versa. This study reports both methodological and pedagogical observations through critical reflections on a co-design process of a paper-based method for sharing information about sensory preferences with six autistic students aged 12–13 years, 16 educational practitioners, and five autistic adults. The co-design process supported students to share information with each other and build self-awareness. Participants were positive about the potential for sharing information but raised concerns about the extent to which new knowledge would impact on teaching practices. Co-designed methods are needed in tandem with sustained action to increase autism awareness to change attitudes and educational practices.