How can the detention context be made more autism-friendly?
The prevalence of autism among prisoners is higher than in the general population. It is often not easy for autistic people to cope within the context of a prison.
In Belgium, Team ‘Ontgrendeld’ from Voluit works in the prisons of Ghent, Dendermonde, Oudenaarde, and Beveren. Team ‘Ontgrendeld’ supports prisoners with a (suspected) disability in terms of their release from prison and sustainable reintegration into society.
In collaboration with Team ‘Ontgrendeld’, we are carrying out a project on an ‘autism-friendly detention’ within the prison of Ghent. As part of this project, Team ‘Ontgrendeld’ offers the Autism Experience Circuit to employees within the prison.
What? Autism Experience Circuit (AEC): various experiential assignments and interactive working forms
For whom? For anyone who wants to learn more about autism
Why? To increase knowledge about autism and create more understanding for autistic people in detention
What is the research about?
How satisfied are the participants with the AEC within the prison?
We use an online survey to ask how satisfied participants are with the form and content of the AEC.
What effect does the AEC have on prison staff?
Through an online survey among the participants of various AEC workshops within the prison, we want to find out whether the AEC has an impact on: (1) their knowledge about autism, and (2) their attitudes towards autistic individuals.
What adjustments are needed to make detention more autism-friendly?
We will conduct an exploratory study through focus groups or interviews with employees who followed the AEC to brainstorm about possible adjustments that can make detention more autism-friendly.
In collaboration with
Voluit
Leen De Roo en Margit Leufkens
Contact person ACCA
Jarymke Maljaars
Academic Collaborative Centre for Autism 