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Autistics’ Guide to Adulthood: Building Confidence in Autistic Adults Through Co-Designed Life Skills Modules

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Autism SA is proud to share the positive evaluation results of the Autistics’ Guide to Adulthood (AGTA)—a free, online life-skills resource developed by autistic adults, for autistic adults, with the support of the Department of Social Services.

Launched in 2023 as a platform for autistic adults to support fellow autistic adults to build confidence, knowledge, and connections to services and activities, the Guide offers ten self-paced modules on key areas of adult life, as identified through a national survey.

Co-Designed and Research-Informed

The AGTA was co-designed with input from a national advisory group, a national survey, the direct employment of autistic adults, and a comprehensive literature review. To ensure the resource was effective and relevant, the University of Adelaide conducted an independent evaluation involving 84 autistic adults who trialled one or more of the modules. Participants completed pre- and post-module surveys and provided detailed feedback on their experiences.

Key Findings

Improved Personal Outcomes

  • Knowledge gains: Most participants reported increased knowledge after completing a module (12.4% “very much,” 26.3% “quite a bit,” 42% “some improvement”).
  • Satisfaction with abilities: 53.7% felt satisfied or very satisfied with their module-related abilities after completion, compared to 27.5% before.
  • Confidence: 74.6% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were confident in their module-related knowledge post-completion, compared to 30.1% before.
  • Practical application: Over a third of participants implemented strategies from the modules, with nearly half (48.8%) reporting they were very or extremely successful.

Module Quality and Usefulness

Participants rated the content quality and usefulness very highly:

· Quality: 36.4% “excellent,” 31.4% “good”

· Usefulness: 39.1% “excellent,” 33.2% “good”

The authentic autistic voices within the modules were particularly valued, making the content more relatable, meaningful, and relevant.

User-Friendly Platform

Participants also praised the online platform, reporting high satisfaction with system quality, information clarity, and user interface design. The platform’s accessibility features and downloadable resources were highlighted as important strengths.

A Resource That Makes a Difference

Overall, 91% of participants said they would recommend the modules to others. The findings suggest that the AGTA provides an innovative and effective way for autistic adults to access self-development resources that enhance health, wellbeing, and community participation.

While not every participant reported improvements—some already had prior knowledge or faced barriers outside the scope of the modules—the majority gave positive feedback. Importantly, participants also offered thoughtful suggestions for improving existing modules and for future topics, ensuring the Guide can continue to evolve.

Looking Ahead

Autism SA acknowledges and thanks the autistic adults who bravely and generously shared their experiences to create the AGTA, as well as the University of Adelaide researchers for their rigorous evaluation. The feedback collected continues to guide ongoing updates, ensuring the Guide remains responsive to the needs of autistic adults across Australia.

Download the FULL Evaluation Report here