Project Description

Building Relationships for Inclusive Digital Growth and Engagement (BRIDGE) is a two-year Erasmus+ Youth funded project (2025–2026) that brings together universities and autism organisations from across Europe to explore different views and experiences of the Internet by engaging with Autistic youth, their families and guardians and the professionals who work with them. Autistic youth often encounter inaccessible platforms, limited support, and increased vulnerability to online harm (Bölte et al., 2021; Kuo et al., 2014). BRIDGE is founded on the principle that digital participation is a fundamental right and must be safe, inclusive, and meaningful for all.

The project is led by Dublin City University (DCU) Ireland, the world’s first Autism-Friendly University (AsIAm, 2023) and involves key partners across five countries including three universities and three non governmental associations working with autistic people; European University Cyprus; University of Zagreb, Croatia; Autism Praxis Infinity Solutions (APIS), Cyprus; Autismo Andalucía, Spain; and Light Trees (Φωτόδεντρα), Greece.

BRIDGE seeks to create a Europe-wide online toolkit to offer autism-informed practical strategies for healthy, responsible internet use for and by autistic individuals and those who support them—families, caregivers, youth workers, educators, and therapists. For autistic individuals, social media can offer a way to stay connected with others without the stress of navigating elements like tone of voice or body language (Davidson, 2008). In contrast, research (Giles, 2014) contends that parental concern is understandable, since problematic use of the Internet (PUI) may start in childhood or adolescence and potentially alter developmental trajectories or increase in severity over time. BRIDGE aims to 1. promote responsible and safe Internet use by engaging with autistic youth to learn about their views of the internet, how they interact with online platforms and content and with others online; 2. conduct consultations with families, autistic youth and professionals to agree on safe and healthy internet use; 3. develop an online toolkit for all stakeholders. BRIDGE will work with key stakeholders; autistic youth (age 18-30), families and professionals who work with the autistic community to learn about their views, experiences and insight as well as their needs.

The project is autism informed and situated within the neurodiversity paradigm, which understands autism as a natural form of human variation rather than a deficit requiring remediation (Walker, 2021). The neurodiversity paradigm is conceptualised based on four pillars (Walker, 2021; Fletcher-Watson, 2022): Neurodiversity is naturally occurring; No one neurotype is better than another; -Neurodiversity operates like other equality and diversity dimensions, and; Strength is in diversity itself. There is a collective value in diversity. In a review of qualitative research methods used in disability studies, it was observed that while there has been a gradual increase in studies involving autistic individuals, the voices of autistic individuals and others with disabilities remain marginalised (United Nations, 2006). Despite this recognition, the involvement of autistic individuals in qualitative research has remained minimal until recently, and their voices have had little influence on policy development (Milton, Mills & Pellicano, 2012).

Methods The BRIDGE project focuses on three work packages designed to engage sequentially with stakeholder and target groups in each country to engage, understand and respond to autistic voices about their lived experience on digital platforms and media and their views of their online lives. The work packages will begin with desk research of the literature in each country on the use of the internet by autistic youth (age 18-30). There is a dearth of literature from autistic voices on how the internet can add value to their lives through access to others with similar interests, values and viewpoints. Findings from the literature review indicated: Autistic youth actively participate in online environments; and they exhibit distinct usage patterns compared to their neurotypical peers (preference for YouTube but lower engagement with applications like TikTok and Snapchat)(Cardillo, et al., 2025). Work package one has developed a dataset of autistic views and autism informed knowledge through desk research of the literature available and a scoping review of the legislation, structures, policies and supports available to autistic youth and families in each partner country. Findings from these reports inform the ethical design and approval of co participatory research activities with autistic youth, families of autistic youth and professionals such as youth workers, psychologists, social workers and teachers who work with autistic youth. In co-produced research, decisions are made through a democratic and non-hierarchical group agreement process (Stark, et al., 2021). Findings from these rich datasets underpinned by existing literature and insight into national policies and supports inform work package three which focuses on interactive workshops with families and youths to explore and discuss research findings. There is a strong case for co-design with autistic youth to make materials usable and effective (Stark et al., 2021). The inter-generational discussions will produce recommendations and suggestions for practical aids, tools and tips for families and autistic youth on the Internet. Participants will be supported in creating autism informed materials for awareness raising events and the online toolkit. Work package four while primarily focusing on the design, development and content creation of the online toolkit includes needs analysis workshops with professionals to ensure that the research findings are shared and professional insight, advice and suggestions are integrated into the online resource.

Outcomes The outcomes of the BRIDGE project are being disseminated widely across Europe and the online toolkit will be available from December of this year. BRIDGE aims to produce a valuable resource for all stakeholders, autism informed and created by autistic youth, their families, and professionals working with the autistic community. The toolkit will provide insight, advice and guidance into the lived experience of autistic people online, their nuanced understanding of the challenges of online spaces and the problems associated with digital life. Project outcomes will include national and transnational literature reviews on autistic youth’s use of the Internet and their digital lives; national and transnational reports on legislation, policy and supports for autistic people; national and transnational research findings from co produced research activities with autistic youth and their families, and professionals; and will promote digital literacy by facilitating awareness raising and discussion on the use of the Internet and online spaces between autistic youth and their families. Professionals will share expertise and insight through the online resource while learning from autistic youth and families about the benefits of digital spaces to autistic youth. The online toolkit will address the intergenerational understanding of digital use, promoting digital readiness and resilience across stakeholder groups and the public.

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