REWORLDING community outputs

Peer Interaction

Described by Carolina Carvalho, based on O'Donoghue, M. et al. (2025)
Description

Alternative Peer Interaction Supports

 

Context

 

Alternative Peer Interaction Supports aim to offer a neuro-affirming strengths-based approach, based on peer interaction. Classic peer mediated interventions are often structured around the assumption that neurotypical individuals have superior skills to neurodivergent individuals. They imply that the latter should “learn” from interactions with neurotypical groups. 
 
Alternative Peer Interaction Supports, on the other hand, aim to centre autistic people’s perspectives and needs, creating affirming spaces for neurodiverse communities to engage in processes of Mutual Learning, where all groups share knowledge with each other.

 

 

Description

 

Collaboration is established with Autistic individuals to better define what supports are needed and useful, avoiding research and implementation of practices based on assumptions or neurotypical requirements. Supports are put in place, taking into account different forms of communication, interaction, as well as the Double Empathy Problem - the understanding that both neurotypical and neurodivergent groups may struggle to empathise with each other because of their different lived experiences. 


Alternative Peer Interaction Supports also acknowledge that, often, Autistic groups have better understandings of non-autistic interactions than the other way around, due to recurrent disabling environments. Therefore, it is encouraged to “tip the scale toward change in the environment” (O’Donoghue et al., 2025), with non-autistic peers or facilitators getting access to added training.
 
 
 

Engagement with more-than-human entities

 

Alternative Peer Interaction Supports encourage the consideration over inclusive environments that are not disabling to those accessing supports. Therefore, there is a strong component of architecture of the space that should be neuro-affirming, taking into account sensory needs.

 

 

Interpretation as “retracing”

 

Overall, Alternative Peer Interaction Supports highlight the need for and importance of Mutual Learning. Engaging with peers with different skills and knowledge, in an interaction based on mutual respect, may develop multidisciplinary understandings and perspectives of the world.

 

 

Case study

 

Many of the workers of Autism organisations in the ReWorlding project referred to their appreciation for working in neurodiverse environments. In fact, they often mentioned their learnings from coworkers of different neurotypes, and how they’d gained better understandings of their own communication or sensory preferences/needs, consequently.

 

 

Reference

 

O'Donoghue, M. et al. (2025). Using the Double Empathy Problem to Reframe Supports for Peer Interaction. D. Milton (e.d.) The Double Empathy Reader. Pavilion Publishing and Media Ltd. ISBN: 9781803882956

 

Links
- RELATIONS
2025-07-14 14:11:10

Atlas of synergies

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