Establishing professional boundaries is one of the most important relationships for autistic adults to understand. This involves defining expectations and understanding with the professionals that serve us. We are often learning as autistic adults how to become socially inclined in the world. It is important to understand that those who serve us professionally are not our friends. We must also understand when things just don’t seem right or comfortable.

No matter what title someone carries, when they offer a service to us, it builds the foundation of a relationship. Small conversation and other socialization often take place. They help us build the confidence we need to navigate the world. They also help us communicate and self-advocate for what we need. It is crucial that professional boundaries are understood. They must be recognized throughout when services are provided to us or our autistic loved one.

Nowadays we see far too much. Some professionals manipulate autistic individuals. These individuals are often in the process of learning social skills and understanding social norms. They are led to believe things that are unprofessional or inappropriate. These beliefs are not the goal of what the service should support them in doing. The autistic person allows these actions to continue. They think it is acceptable or what is supposed to be done. Ultimately, the employing entity must properly screen and train them. They need to know what is expected and the conduct that is to be followed in a professional relationship.

It also takes educating the autistic individual in knowing what is acceptable and what is not. They should know that if something does not feel right, they need to tell someone they wholly trust. This can be challenging for someone that can’t communicate effectively. When incidents happen, and law enforcement needs to get involved, proving wrongdoing can be extremely challenging. This is often when an autistic individual can’t communicate in the usual way.

There must be a firm understanding that those providing a service of support to an individual is not their friend. Believe it or not, autistic people often want friendships. When someone meant to uphold professional boundaries bends them, it allows things that cross the lines of ethics and professionalism. This opens the door to many complexities. It creates challenges for all involved. It can reveal issues that suggest favoritism and other conflicting factors. These can make things very difficult later on.

It is important to understand the roles of everyone and what they can and can’t do. It is crucial to know that autistic people deserve individuals in their lives. These individuals should not always be in a professional or therapeutic role. Autistic people need to put in the effort to create genuine friendships. These friendships should not be in a serving capacity where professional decorum must be maintained. Things just are so much better when ethical and professional boundaries are maintained and respected by all parties.