A mixed-methods study examining the ripple effect of inclusive employment on reducing stigma toward autistic people in South Korea.

This mixed-methods study examines how contact with Autistar, a Korean company providing strength-based, institutional-level support to autistic designers, is associated with stigma toward autistic people. One-hundred thirty-eight non-autistic community members completed an online survey; mixed-effects and stepwise regression analyses assessed relationships between contact with Autistar and stigma. Focus group interviews with 11 participants drawn from this full survey sample who had extensive contact with Autistar were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Quantitative analyses indicated that greater contact breadth with Autistar was linked to lower stigma. In particular, participation in exhibitions and introduction by acquaintances predicted lower stigma. Qualitative analysis revealed that sustained and informed contact, which allowed participants to notice similarities between themselves and autistic employees and the strengths of these employees, helped them view autistic people as part of their ingroup. This study linked contact theory and ingroup bias theory to explain how high-quality contact may be associated with perceiving autistic people as part of one's ingroup. The findings underscored the societal impact of an inclusive employment model, which extends beyond individual interactions to influence societal attitudes, and suggested the need for further research on systemic policies to expand such initiatives.Lay abstractAutistic people often face stigma, meaning they are treated unfairly or seen as different in a negative way. This stigma can make it difficult for them to find jobs, build relationships, and fully participate in society. This study looks at how Autistar may help change the way people think about autism. Autistar is a South Korean company that hires and supports autistic designers. We wanted to understand if seeing and interacting with Autistar and autistic designers at Autistar could help reduce stigma. To do this, we surveyed 138 non-autistic people who had some level of contact with Autistar. We asked about their experiences and attitudes toward autistic people. We also conducted group interviews with 11 participants who had more experience with the company to get deeper insights. Quantitative analysis showed that people who had more interactions with Autistar reported more positive attitudes. The results from the interviews showed that seeing autistic people's talents helped break stereotypes. Seeing autistic people at exhibitions, learning about them, or meeting them through friends and family was linked to less stigma. Some participants said they no longer saw autistic people as "different" but as part of the same world with valuable skills. Participants were more comfortable working with or spending time with autistic people than before interacting with autistic employees of Autistar. This study shows that inclusive workplaces like this can help change how people think about autism. By creating more job opportunities with proper support for autistic people, we may be able to build a more inclusive society.