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Abstract
Research shows that establishing social connections with peers can be elusive for autistic youth. A program for neurodivergent youth uses the tabletop role playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game within a neurodiversity affirming framework to promote opportunities for social engagement and foster social connectedness. Eight autistic adolescents (1 F, 7 M) aged 14 – 18 (M = 16.25, SD =1.39) from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) participated in semi-structured interviews to gather insight into their experiences in the program. Participants had been enrolled in the program for an average of M = 15.43 weeks, SD = .90. Inclusion criteria included the ability to independently complete tasks of daily living with minimal verbal prompts, communicate verbally with peers, comprehend simple math, engage in turn-take in small groups, sustain playing a two-hour game and understand and follow rules. The thematic analysis identified three overarching themes; intrinsic engagement and enjoyment through shared interest and program structure, fostering social connectedness through engagement and opportunity, and exploring self and agency through shared interest gameplay. All participants described valuing the social opportunities provided by the group and expressed feelings of connection with peers. By centering autistic adolescents’ perspectives, this qualitative study offers insight into how social connectedness was experienced within a neurodiversity affirming context and highlights the importance of participant informed approaches to understanding social engagement.
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June 2026
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