Despite all the talk of being “in it together”, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have had dramatically varied effects on different communities across Australia and the world.

This report is the first major investigation into the impact on autistic people and their families.

The report draws on in-depth interviews with 131 people over 115 hours, conducted by both autistic and non-autistic researchers.

It reveals that while many autistic people welcomed enhanced financial support from the government, the increased accessibility of some health and educational services and the slowing down of pressurised routines, they nonetheless felt worryingly unsupported during the pandemic.

In particular, interviewees reported that they found government messages conflicting and confusing, efforts to move therapies and other health support online unsatisfactory and individualised support for schooling from home lacking.

The report makes a series of key conclusions intended to influence on-going policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:

• Preparation is vital
• Flexibility, time and reflective space matter
• Technology is not a stand-alone healthcare solution
• Supports for learning from home need radical improvement
• Friendship and sociability need conscious support