Prison environments are particularly challenging for autistic people experiencing incarceration due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of autism among prison staff. The study aimed to evaluate the level of satisfaction and perceived effectiveness of an autism awareness training for prison staff and to assess whether this training improves autism knowledge and reduces stigma towards autistic individuals in a prison setting.
The Autism Experience Circuit (AEC), an interactive autism awareness training, has been offered to prison staff. The training was evaluated through an online survey among 31 prison employees who participated in the AEC compared to a control group of 51 other staff members.
Results showed high satisfaction among AEC participants. They especially appreciated the interactive method. For most participants, the AEC led to increased knowledge and understanding of autism, as indicated by their assessment of goal achievement. A significant improvement in autism knowledge, but not in stigma towards autistic people, was found in the AEC group compared to the control group.
These findings suggest that an autism awareness training can be a valuable first step in making prisons more accommodating for autistic individuals, but additional strategies are necessary to address stigma effectively.
