You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Courtney Cuthbertson from
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This study aims to explore the experiences and perspectives of
neurotypical caregivers raising autistic children between 6 and 11 years old, focusing on their
understanding and support of their child’s autistic identity development. This age range was selected as
it represents a critical period for identity formation and the development of self-awareness in children.
If you agree to participate, you will be asked to participate in a one-on-one interview that will last
approximately 60-90 minutes. The interview will be conducted in person in your home or virtually via
Zoom at a time and location convenient for you. The interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed
verbatim. The transcript data will be supplemented with observational field notes made by the
researcher during the interviews and any relevant documents/artifacts you choose to share.
During the interview, you will be asked about:
 Your understanding of autism and perceptions of autistic identity.
 Strategies and support systems you use to foster a positive autistic identity in your child.
 Challenges and barriers you have experienced in supporting your child’s autistic identity
development.
To enhance the trustworthiness and credibility of the findings, the researcher will conduct member
checks with a subset of participants. Therefore, you will potentially be contacted for a follow up 30
minutes interview. After the initial analysis, the researcher will share the preliminary themes and
interpretations with the participants and seek their feedback and validation of the findings. This will
ensure that the analysis accurately reflects the participants’ perspectives and experiences.
To participate in this study, you must meet the following criteria:
 You are the primary caregiver (e.g., parent, legal guardian) of a child diagnosed with autism
spectrum disorder.
 You have been involved in your child’s care since their diagnosis.
 You have not been diagnosed with autism and self-identify as neurotypical.
 Your child is between the ages of 6 and 11 years old.
 Your child’s autism diagnosis is their primary diagnosis.
There are minimal risks associated with participating in this study. You may experience some discomfort
discussing your experiences. You are free to decline to answer any questions or stop the interview at
any time.
If you have any questions, complaints or concerns about this study, please contact Dr. Courtney
Cuthbertson or Andrea Fanta at [email protected]

Name of Organization:
University of Illinois

For questions, please email::
[email protected]

Study Link: