| Characteristic | Frequency, n (%) |
|---|---|
| Total participants | 458 |
| Age, years | |
| 18–25 | 47 (10.3) |
| 26–40 | 148 (32.3) |
| 41–60 | 202 (44.1) |
| ≥61 | 61 (13.3) |
| Sex | |
| Male | 183 (40.0) |
| Female | 244 (53.3) |
| Did not report as male or femalea | 14 (3.0) |
| No response | 17 (3.7%) |
| Qualifications achievedb | |
| Postgraduate degree | 74 (16.2) |
| Bachelor’s degree | 163 (35.6) |
| Diploma of higher education | 59 (12.9) |
| Certificate of higher education | 49 (10.7) |
| A-level or equivalent | 245 (53.5) |
| General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) | 341 (74.5) |
| Basic skills | 87 (19.0) |
| No formal qualifications | 39 (8.5) |
| Other | 76 (16.6) |
| Employment statusb | |
| Employed without support | 142 (31.0) |
| Employed with support | 6 (1.3) |
| Self-employed | 36 (7.9) |
| Volunteer | 58 (12.7) |
| Unemployed | 194 (42.4) |
| Retired | 25 (5.5) |
| Other | 78 (17.0) |
| Autism diagnosis | |
| Formal diagnosis | 392 (85.6) |
| Suspected or unsure or awaiting assessment | 66 (14.4) |
| Mean age at diagnosis (SD; range) | 37.7 (15.6; 2.0–68.0) |
| SRS score by severity categoryc | |
| Normal | 9 (2.3) |
| Mild | 38 (9.6) |
| Moderate | 121 (30.6) |
| Severe | 227 (57.5) |
| No response | 63 (13.8%) |
| Mean (SD) | 116 (26) |
| Intellectual disabilityd | |
| Formal diagnosis | 28 (6.1) |
| Suspected | 33 (7.2) |
| Type of secondary school attendedb | |
| Mainstream school | 424 (92.6) |
| Specialist schooling (at any time) | 54 (11.8) |
| Statement of special educational needs | |
| Yes | 60 (13.1) |
| No | 362 (79.0) |
| Don’t know | 32 (7.0) |
| No response | 4 (0.9) |
| Additional help with learning received at mainstream schoolb | |
| No help | 349 (76.2) |
| Classroom support | 35 (7.6) |
| One-to-one instruction | 22 (4.8) |
| Extra time for exams | 53 (11.6) |
| Special equipment | 13 (2.8) |
| Quiet room | 28 (6.1) |
| Support person | 36 (7.9) |
| Support received currentlyb | |
| Home | 135 (29.5) |
| Employment | 45 (9.8) |
| Health | 117 (25.5) |
| Finance | 120 (26.2) |
| Social | 67 (14.6) |
| Lifelong learning | 56 (12.2) |
| Community | 86 (18.8) |
| Organisation | 70 (15.3) |
| Do not receive support | 205 (44.8) |
| Support needed currentlyb | |
| Home | 120 (26.2) |
| Employment | 190 (41.5) |
| Health | 161 (35.2) |
| Finance | 202 (44.1) |
| Social | 247 (53.9) |
| Lifelong learning | 222 (48.5) |
| Community | 136 (29.7) |
| Organisation | 140 (30.6) |
| Do not want to receive support | 61 (13.3) |
| Completion of survey | |
| On own | 371 (81.0) |
| With help from somebody else | 77 (16.8) |
| No response | 10 (2.2) |
aNot included in analyses of sex comparison; data included in all other analyses. bResponders could tick more than one option, so percentages add up to more than 100%. cThe Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores are reported under the categories given by the SRS authors; however, the authors are aware that some autistic people may dislike this terminology and view it as pathologising. dResponders were asked to tick the relevant box if they had been diagnosed with or suspected they had an intellectual disability.