Survey finds strong support for equal opportunities but greater hesitation in everyday relationships.
Singaporeans broadly support inclusion for autistic people, but a new nationwide survey suggests that acceptance becomes less certain when inclusion moves from principle into workplaces, neighborhoods, classrooms, and intimate relationships.
Awareness Is High, Understanding Is Lower
The Singapore Management University (SMU) Being.Me. survey covered 3,153 respondents and found that 97.5 percent had heard of autism, but 69.5 percent rated their own knowledge of the condition at below 50 percent. The study, led by SMU Principal Lecturer of Statistics Rosie Ching with support from Saint Andrew’s Autism Centre, included autistic people, family members, people who knew someone with autism, and respondents without those personal connections.
Workplace Support Does Not Fully Translate Into Hiring
The survey found that 95.9 percent believed autistic people can succeed at work with appropriate support, while 65 percent agreed that an autistic worker could be just as competent as a worker without autism. Among 403 respondents involved in hiring decisions, the average willingness to hire an autistic person was 5.23 on a scale of 0 to 10, where 5 represented a neutral response.
Personal Relationships Show a Wider Gap
More than 90 percent supported equal marriage opportunities for autistic people, but only 40.9 percent said they would feel comfortable having an autistic spouse or romantic partner. Similarly, more than nine in 10 respondents rejected separating autistic people from the wider community, while 88.5 percent said they were comfortable having an autistic neighbor. Researchers said the findings suggest that acceptance becomes more complicated as autism moves closer to respondents’ personal lives.
Education Receives Support but Reservations Remain
Support for autistic people having opportunities to attend university ranged from 92.2 percent to 96.7 percent across respondent groups. Among respondents from the general public, 60.1 percent disagreed that including autistic students in mainstream classrooms could negatively affect other students’ learning, compared with 62.7 percent of family members and 63.4 percent of people who knew someone with autism. Researchers said the findings point to continuing reservations about classroom inclusion and the need for stronger resources and support for schools and teachers.
Caregivers Report Significant Pressure
Emotional and mental stress was the most frequently identified caregiving challenge, cited by 66.3 percent of respondents, followed by financial pressure at 42.1 percent and daily caregiving responsibilities at 40.9 percent. Meanwhile, 96.4 percent believed caregivers should receive greater support, and 90.1 percent supported increased public funding for autism services. Education, early intervention, and employment were the most frequently identified priorities for improvement.
The survey shows that Singapore has strong public support for autism inclusion in principle, but meaningful inclusion remains less consistent when it involves hiring, classrooms, neighborhoods, and close relationships. For Singaporeans, the findings highlight the need to convert awareness into practical support and everyday acceptance. For Indonesians, the study offers a regional reference point for discussions about disability inclusion, workplace access, and support for autistic people and their families.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , SMU SG News (2026)
Keywords: Singapore Autism Survey, Autism Inclusion, Autistic Employment, Workplace Inclusion, Social Acceptance, SMU Survey
