Autistic Social Advocacy as Accessibility in TRPGs

This analysis explores the integration of tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) into social skills training for autistic individuals, advocating for a shift from the traditional medical model of disability to a neurodiversity-affirming social model. While many therapeutic programs historically focus on teaching neurotypical social norms—such as eye contact and small talk—to help autistics conform, these practices often lead to masking and burnout. The central thesis posits that TRPGs should instead be used to foster autistic social advocacy, allowing participants to flourish by embracing their authentic selves rather than suppressing autistic traits.

Based on a decade of experience facilitating TRPG groups for teens in Seattle, the research identifies six core autistic social advocacy skills that emerge in supportive gaming environments: self and peer advocacy, safety communication, navigating access needs, autistic normalization, the celebration of autistic joy, and bonding through shared autistic experiences. The methodology emphasizes the importance of autistic facilitators who provide lived-experience guidance, ensuring that programs adhere to the principle of nothing about us without us.

The findings suggest that when the gaming table is treated as a space for playful, rather than normative, interaction, participants experience greater psychological safety. By reframing masking as a voluntary, character-based role-playing activity rather than a social requirement, practitioners can reduce the shame associated with perceived deficits. Ultimately, the research concludes that organizations utilizing TRPGs for social development must retool their programs to prioritize accessibility and self-advocacy. By celebrating autistic behaviors rather than attempting to fix them, these groups can provide a more effective and empowering foundation for social connection.