Hall et al. (2020) conducted a national survey and interviews of adults on the autism spectrum who identified as LGBTQ+, as well as adults on the spectrum who did not identify as LGBTQ+, in order to gain an understanding of the barriers to healthcare access that this population faces.

This study's findings show that participants who identify as both autistic and LGBTQ+ report worse health and more healthcare access barriers than straight, cisgender autistic people. LGBTQ+ respondents also reported higher unmet healthcare needs, including not being able to see a doctor or access prescription medications. In addition, 35.7% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported being refused services by a healthcare provider, and interviews showed that reluctance to see a provider may be linked to previous negative healthcare experiences.

This is important data that adds to our understanding of healthcare access and health disparities in the autistic LGBTQ+ community. More research is needed in this area in order to determine how to improve healthcare access and implement more affirming and accessible healthcare structures for people who identify as both autistic and LGBTQ+