Staff Recognition of Autism and Autistic Traits in Homelessness Services: A Vignette Study

ABSTRACT Autistic people are overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness, and better recognition of autism may improve access to homelessness services. This study examined whether staff working in homelessness services identify autism in service users. A total of 203 staff working with people experiencing homelessness in the UK completed an online survey in which they were asked to identify a mental health or neurodevelopmental condition from five vignettes co‐developed with experts by experience. Participants were most accurate at identifying more traditional presentations of autism and least accurate at identifying Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). Personal or professional connection to, and experience with, autism did not predict accuracy or whether participants said they would make adaptations. These findings suggest that recognition of more nuanced presentations of autism needs to improve. Future research should examine how adaptations are implemented in practice and how service users experience those adaptations.