Expectation to ‘fit in’ still shapes attitudes to autism, new data shows

Nearly one in four Australians believe Autistic people should adapt their behaviour to fit into society, according to new national research, with advocates warning the finding points to a deeper problem in how autism is understood.

For parents and families, the expectation to adapt is all too familiar, and is something that shapes how they navigate everyday routines and interactions. Children may feel pressure to mask behaviours at school, teenagers might hide their interests or stifle stimming in social situations, and adults navigate workplaces and public spaces where fitting in is assumed to be their responsibility.

The survey, conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia), found 24 per cent of Australians expect Autistic people to change their behaviour in order to “fit in”. The results have been released to coincide with World Autism Understanding Month, which began on 2 April.

For Aspect, the survey results reflect a broader social expectation that continues to shape the daily experiences of Autistic people across the country.

Aspect chief executive Jacqui Borland said the findings underline why autism understanding remains an issue, despite increasing awareness in recent years.

“With at least one in 40 Australians on the autism spectrum, autism is part of everyday life in our schools, workplaces and communities,” she said. “But too many Autistic people still feel pressure to change their behaviour just to be accepted.”

That pressure, she said, can come at a significant personal cost.

“It can be exhausting, isolating and damaging,” Ms Borland said. “Building more inclusive communities is not just the responsibility of Autistic individuals, it’s something we all need to contribute to.”

The research suggests that while autism may be more visible in public life than ever before, understanding has not necessarily kept pace. According to previous YouGov research conducted for Aspect in 2025, only half of Australians believe they have a good understanding of autism. A third said they would not know what to say if someone told them they are Autistic.

Taken together, the two sets of findings point to a gap between awareness and confidence — and potentially, between intention and behaviour.

“Last year, we saw that many Australians were unsure how to respond to or support Autistic people,” Ms Borland said. “This year’s findings suggest those gaps in understanding may shape attitudes about who is expected to change.”

For Michael Theo, an Autistic actor and consultant with Aspect, the results reflect something more familiar than surprising.

“For a lot of Autistic people, there is constant pressure to fit in at work, at school, in social situations and in public,” he said.

That expectation, he added, is not always explicit, but it is persistent.

“When people expect you to adapt all the time, it sends the message that who you are is the problem.”

Mr Theo said the impact of that message can be far-reaching, shaping not just how Autistic people are perceived, but how they experience everyday life.

“That is why understanding matters,” he said. “When people make the effort to learn and listen, it can make a huge difference.”

He emphasised that what Autistic people are seeking is not special treatment, but something far more fundamental.

“People on the spectrum don’t want special treatment; we just want the same things as everybody else. To be loved, valued and accepted by others — and not just by family and friends, but by the world.”

World Autism Understanding Month, Ms Borland said, provides an opportunity to move beyond surface-level awareness and towards more meaningful change.

“Many Autistic people tell us they still feel like they are navigating spaces that were not designed with them in mind,” she said.

That, she argues, is where the focus needs to shift — away from expecting individuals to adapt, and towards rethinking the environments and systems around them.

“Real inclusion starts when we stop asking Autistic people to change in order to belong, and instead ask what we can do differently as a society.”

Aspect is encouraging Australians to use the month as a prompt to reflect on their own assumptions, learn more about autism, and consider the practical role they can play in creating more inclusive communities.

The research was based on a sample of 1,016 Australian adults aged 18 and over, surveyed online between 12 and 16 March 2026. Findings were weighted to reflect national population estimates.

Visit aspect.org.au to learn more about their work.