PONE-D-21-24954The Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic by Autistic People: Social AspectsPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Błeszyński,  Please modify the manuscript as suggested by the reviewers

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Manuscript title: The Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic by Autistic People: 

Social Aspects

All persons who meet authorship criteria are listed as authors, and all authors certify 

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publication before its appearance in the Autism. 

Authorship contributions: 

Category 1 

Conception and design of study: Aleksandra Rumińska, Agnieszka Warszawa; 

acquisition of data: Aleksandra Rumińska; 

analysis and/or interpretation of data: Aleksandra Rumińska, Agnieszka 

Warszawa. 

Category 2 

Drafting the manuscript: Aleksandra Rumińska, Agnieszka Warszawa; 

revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content: Jacek J. 

Błeszyński, Aleksandra Rumińska, Agnieszka Hamerlińska, Renata StefańskaKlar, Agnieszka Warszawa. 

Category 3 

The Research Project Manager: Jacek J. Błeszyński;

Approval of the version of the manuscript to be published (the names of all authors 

must be listed): Jacek J. Błeszyński, Aleksandra Rumińska, Agnieszka 

Hamerlińska, Renata Stefańska-Klar, Agnieszka Warszawa.

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received substantial contributions from non-authors: Wojciech Kruszelnicki, Ewa 

Jarosz"

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Reviewer #1: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: a. It would be better to avoid terms like “autistic people”. It sounds more stigmatizing. It would be better, if the authors use the term “persons with autism spectrum disorders”

b. Two different abstracts (one structured and one unstructured) are used by the authors. Kindly check.

c. What is the hypothesis of the study?

d. It is well known that significant proportion of people with autism spectrum disorders, have intellectual disability. Whether the authors considered the IQ of the participants before conducting interview and obtaining consent? Presence of psychopathology and severity of autism may influence the engagement in interview for assessment. This may influence the results significantly. How, these factors are taken care?

Reviewer #2: The Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic by Autistic People: Social Aspects

--Manuscript Draft--

Manuscript Number: PONE-D-21-24954

Covid 19 pandemic has resulted in multiple psychological problems-(boredom, frustration, and embitterment), psychiatric issues (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal behavior and acute psychotic episodes) and social consequences (stigma, financial instability, sense of isolation etc).Studies of Covid 19 pandemic related issues have been addressed on people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and their care givers(Yasser SaeedKhan et al,2021; Raman Baweja et al 2021, JorgeLugo-Marín et al (2021)).Several strategies have been advanced including Pfeiffer’s team in the college’s REACH Lab (Research, Engagement and Advocacy for Community Participation and Health) interventions and outcome measures aimed at promoting inclusion in community activities for those with ASD and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

This qualitative research has employed double hermeneutic of Anthony Giddens and interpretative phenomenological analysis (combination of psychological, interpretative, and idiographic components) with eight issues in ten adults diagnosed with autism spectrum, aged 25–45, out of which two as non-binary or genderqueer .Jefferson Transcription System was used in assessing participants’ statements (five recurring topics).The thematic analysis usually involves coding reliability thematic analysis, codebook thematic analysis and reflexive thematic analysis.

The case analysis reveals ‘the sense of falling out of social roles’, suicidal preoccupation, ‘craved for some interaction, but on the other hand, direct contact with people during the pandemic made her anxious’.

Digital health measures are necessary in this changing scenario as exemplified by Baweja’s article. The current article suggests ‘many autistic people seem to be well prepared for functioning in the new, rapidly emerging digital reality’. This may be true especially in high functioning autistic individuals

Additional Comments

1 Qualitative research needs small sample as in this article

2 The authors have employed probably the best methodological approach during the difficult times of covid

3 These digital methods may be incorporated into the frame work of ASD, especially in high

functioning cases

4 Further qualitative researches may help in adopting new strategies

Recommendation

1May include the recent articles, may specify high functioning ASD if necessary.

2Can be accepted

(Yasser SaeedKhan et al (2021) Research in Developmental Disabilities 119:104090;

Raman Baweja et al (2021) Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders;

JorgeLugo-Marín et al (2021) Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders83, 101757)

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes: Dr E.Mohandas Warrier

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The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic by persons with ASD: Social aspects

PONE-D-21-24954R1

Dear Dr. Rumińska,

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Kind regards,

Soumitra Das

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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