For immediate release October 11, 2024
Contact: Cindy Bramble, project manager, 202-457-5811, [email protected]
Autism and Grief Project Reports Steady Increase in Website Traffic
WASHINGTON — Usage of autismandgrief.org continued to grow as the website entered its third year of service to grieving adults with autism and their support networks.
The website debuted in September 2022, with new visitors increasing 43 percent in the second year. Popular resources for site users include social stories about grief and loss, reactions to loss, professional continuing education courses, and coping with pet loss.
“We’ve received so much positive feedback. Since launch, we’ve added more content to guide users through the process of grief when autism is involved, including additional social stories and Spanish language content,” said Cindy Bramble, project director for autismandgrief.org.
Visitors have turned to the website for insight into grief reactions common to those with autism and how to provide support. Resources are organized in four portals that include adults with autism; family, friends and support people; clergy and other professionals; and Spanish language resources. In addition to providing public and professional grief education and support materials, the website includes two popular animated videos about grief that were produced by artists with autism.
“While the portals are a navigation starting point, many autismandgrief.org visitors will find information in each portal helpful,” said Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, senior vice president for grief education at Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) and project team member. “This is a unique resource that combines what we know about grief and what we know about autism into one remarkable online toolkit.”
Funded by the NLM Family Foundation, autismandgrief.org was developed over the course of two years by HFA, which consulted more than 100 adults with autism, grief experts, autism experts, clergy, support professionals, and family members of adults with autism, all of whom shaped website content.
Grief reactions for those with autism are often at odds with societal stereotypes around how grief is experienced and how it is demonstrated. For example, an autistic adult may grieve deeply but be unable to communicate their thoughts and emotions. They may react to a death loss with little or no reaction, increased stimming or anxiety, or become deeply absorbed in a comforting activity. Any of these reactions may cause their grief to be unsupported or unacknowledged.
In addition, religious and secular rituals associated with grief and loss can be difficult for adults with autism due to the logistical management involved and the potential for sensory overload associated with social interaction, sounds, and smells. The website offers a social story and a planning tool to help with preparing for and participating in funerals.
The website includes two free, on-demand continuing education courses; one provides general education about autism and grief, and another is specifically for clergy. The courses have been viewed by more than 1,200 professionals who work in health care, social service delivery, clergy, and other helping professions.
“Autismandgrief.org will continue to evolve over time.” Bramble said. “Our mission is to meet the needs of all grieving adults on the autism spectrum and their support networks. We’ll continue to revise content in response to website usage and visitors’ needs.”
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