This article originally appeared in START Connecting in February 2026.

Flourishing belongs to all of us and is part of our shared human experience. Yet when we talk about wellbeing and a life well lived, the stories and strengths of autistic people have often been missing from those conversations. The emerging autism wellbeing movement is helping to shift this narrative by grounding our understanding of wellbeing in lived experience and recognizing that flourishing looks different for each person (Wright and Curran, 2025). It emphasizes the importance of belonging, purpose, autonomy, and joy, and affirms that everyone deserves the opportunity to flourish in ways that feel meaningful to them.

Wellbeing is more than mental health or physical health alone. It includes how people experience daily life, connect with others, and participate in their communities. Much of the research on flourishing has been shaped by neurotypical assumptions about success and fulfillment, leaving disability and neurodiversity underrepresented. When these perspectives are missing, our understanding of wellbeing remains incomplete and does not fully reflect the diversity of human experience.

What Flourishing Looks Like for Autistic People

Flourishing with autism may look different from what is considered typical. A more inclusive understanding of flourishing recognizes that it is an individual experience and may look different for each person.

According to Wright and Curran (2025), Autistic flourishing might look like:

• the satisfaction of predictability and structure.
• the joy of deep focus on a special interest.
• the comfort of authentic social interactions with people who understand them.
• the pleasure found in purpose-driven solitude or creative expression.

Flourishing studies need to measure these experiences. Defining and studying autistic flourishing is not about fitting autistic people into existing wellbeing models but instead must reflect the full spectrum of human ways of experiencing wellbeing (Pellicano & Heyworth, 2023).

An Inclusive Framework for Wellbeing

In positive psychology, flourishing is often understood through the PERMA+ model, which includes positive emotion, engagement, relationships, mattering, accomplishment, and health. This strengths-based framework can be personalized across different areas of life. Proof Positive applies these science-based principles to support autistic individuals, their families, educators and service providers by providing practical tools and resources grounded in positive psychology and wellbeing science. 

For example, Individualized Well-Being Plans (IWPs) adapt positive psychology principles to each person’s strengths, preferences, and contexts. IWPs encourage goal-setting, daily practice, and regular adjustment, turning wellbeing into a practical roadmap. It is like data-based decision making on a personal level. For educators and families, IWPs offer a way to integrate wellbeing into daily routines. Additionally, the PERMA+ Snapshot helps people assess and strengthen wellbeing over time through a process of tracking the experience of wellbeing.   

Wellbeing in Systems

Wellbeing matters not only for individuals, but also within the systems that support them. Schools and family support systems play a powerful role in shaping the daily experiences and long-term outcomes of autistic students. When schools build wellbeing into practices and services, it shows that  health and quality of life matter just as much as academic learning and skill development.

The wellbeing of educators and families is also important. When adults experience connection, purpose, and support within their roles, they are better able to create environments that promote belonging and resilience. Ridderinkhof et al. (2019) found that teaching mindfulness to families can have a direct and positive impact on children’s challenging behavior, even when the intervention does not directly involve the child. Davidson and colleagues from the Center for Healthy Minds recently completed a study with schools in Kentucky and found that children were more academically successful when teachers participated in a mindfulness program (manuscript in preparation). Supporting the wellbeing of educators and families strengthens the communities around students.

Humin has invested in creating wellbeing practices, like the Healthy Minds App, that help everyone build habits that support flourishing in everyday life. When tools like this are used widely, they can create shared language and experiences around wellbeing. Small daily practices integrated across classrooms and homes can gradually create environments that support both human flourishing and learning.

Celebrating Diverse Pathways to Flourishing and Wellbeing

Wellbeing and happiness are not one size fits all. They vary across individuals and neurotypes. For autistic people, wellbeing often grows from structured environments, strength based engagement, autonomy, and authentic relationships that honor identity and preference. Rather than focusing only on symptom reduction or behavior change, flourishing involves creating environments and opportunities where people can experience fulfillment and joy in ways that honor who they are. Celebrating differences expands our understanding of flourishing for everyone.

START aligns with this vision of wellbeing by supporting educators, families, and community partners to create inclusive environments and opportunities that empower autistic students to thrive. START emphasizes wellbeing goals such as inclusion, belonging, autonomy, and meaningful participation, helping students not only succeed academically but also feel connected, understood, and valued in their educational environments.

Here’s to flourishing together!

Written By: Amy Matthews, PhD, BCBA, Project Director and Sally Davis, GVSU School Psychology Graduate Student

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