Five first-hand web page accounts of unusual sensory perceptual experiences written by persons who claimed to have high-functioning autism were selected for qualitative analysis. Four core categories emerged: turbulent sensory perceptual experiences, coping mechanisms, enjoyable sensory perceptual experiences, and awareness of being different, suggesting that people with autism experience both distress and enjoyment from their sensory perceptual experiences. The use of specific coping mechanisms enabled the person to deal with the distress or difficulties experienced and helped the person derive some enjoyment from the experience. Some of these people were aware that their sensory perceptual experiences were different from non-autistic individuals, but this did not decrease the enjoyment derived from some of their sensory perceptual experiences. These sensory perceptual experiences form an integral part of the individual’s biographical embodied sense of self, and probably of autism.

Background Although there is extensive research examining parental experiences of assessment and diagnosis of autism, there is a paucity of research from the perspective of individuals with autism. Method Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nine young people with high functioning autism who were capable of providing a verbal account of their perceptions of autism and diagnosis experiences. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results Diagnosis, and the disclosure of the diagnosis of autism, were embedded in respondents' perceptions of “having” autism. This superordinate theme included five themes: (i) disclosure delay, (ii) providing explanations, (iii) potential effects of labelling, (iv) disruptions and opportunities, and (v) acceptance and avoidance. Conclusion In relation to the existing literature, it is suggested that the effects of diagnosis, or disclosure of diagnosis, from the perspective of the person with autism be given greater consideration.

Internet-based first-hand accounts of five people who describe themselves as 'high functioning autistic' were analysed using a thematic analytic approach. Four central themes were identified. These were a sense of alienation, a sense of frustration, depression as a central emotion, and a pervasive sense of fear or apprehension. The findings not only imply that emotional issues are important and relevant to people with autism, but there is an implication that the predominant experienced emotions are unpleasant ones. This is in contrast to much of the literature on autism that points to the absence or lack of emotion compared to non-autistic controls. Issues of generalisability to a wider population of people with autism are discussed.

Parents of children with autism have difficulties obtaining adequate information and support to guide them in the care of their children. However, the growth of communication technologies such as email has created greater opportunities for accessing such resources. This article presents a grounded theory analysis of the messages sent to an email group by parents of children with autism. The core category emerging from the analysis indicates that the group functioned in making sense of autism. The core category comprises four categories: searching for meaning; adjusting to changes; providing support and encouragement; and narrative sharing of experiences. Although email groups function as a social support mechanism, we suggest that this is not the only legitimate function: such groups may contribute towards the development of parental representations of autism.