While research as been conducted on resilience and spirituality among parents of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, there is a distinct lack of research examining these variables within the context of the direct experiences of individuals diagnosed with autism. The present study seeks to examine whether individual resiliency and spirituality play a role in the lives of college students with autism, as well as whether these factors contribute to the development of spiritual coping mechanisms. College students with autism may demonstrate how to strengthen their resilience and spirituality, as well as whether spiritual coping mechanisms are common among college students with autism. This qualitative study will collect data from a sample of college-aged individuals diagnosed with autism currently attending Liberty University. Participants will attend individual long-form, semi-structured interviews before completing a resiliency survey, which will be coded for analysis. Interviews are currently ongoing and will be coded for analysis once complete. It is expected that the analysis will identify themes of resiliency and evidence of spiritual coping mechanisms among college students diagnosed with autism. Studying resiliency and spirituality in individuals with autism rather than focusing on the experiences of parents or guardians opens the door to further discussion on the individual experience of autism
