Providing and Accessing Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Mental Health Professionals, Community and Vocational Support Providers, and Adults with ASD

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, essential services and support for individuals with ASD have had to transition to telehealth and virtual technologies. While these technologies have been recommended for use to continue provision of essential services to this population, it has yet to be understood what impact it has had on essential service providers and adults with ASD. This experience report provides insight from essential service providers and adults with ASD from a community center for adults with developmental disabilities to understand their experiences in providing and accessing mental health, and community and vocational support during the COVID-19 pandemic through telehealth and virtual technologies.