Self Determination and Body Autonomy

Respecting autonomy is about honoring an individual’s right to control their own body as well as make their own decisions. Respecting autonomy includes an individual having the right to say no and the right to determine what is helpful for them as well as what is distressing for them. It’s about recognizing that there are multiple courses of actions when it comes to supporting an individual and only an individual gets to determine what is helpful whether it’s therapies or accommodations. It’s about respecting an individual’s right to define their own experiences because individuals are the experts of their own experiences. Without being given autonomy in relation to their own bodies, autistics are put at risk for serious abuse. The following statistics were taken from studies and from information from the US Department of Justice.   Click on the images to get taken to the studies.