Navigating Outward Bound: a first-person exploration of situational exposure through an autistic lens

Simple item page
dc.citation.volumeLatest Articles
dc.contributor.authorNewcombe N
dc.contributor.authorGood GA
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-14T00:20:52Z
dc.date.available2025-03-14T00:20:52Z
dc.date.issued2025-02-18
dc.description.abstractThis article explores the first author’s experience as an autistic woman attending a five-day Professional Leadership course at Outward Bound in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Through a first-person autoethnographic narrative, Nicolina shares why she chose Outward Bound and how she navigated the challenges of situational exposure in a physically and socially demanding outdoor education program, using accommodations to maximise time in the learning zone. She discusses the sensory sensitivities and need for routines that often accompany Autism Spectrum Disorder and demonstrates how she adapted and advocated for her needs while participating in a mainstream course. The barriers she encountered and the positive outcomes she achieved are described. Four themes emerged, these were motivation, challenges, coping and thriving through adaptations, and hope. By reflecting on the balance between growth and anxiety within the comfort zone model, this article offers insights for autistic people, outdoor educationalists, and practitioners. Recommendations call for increased awareness and flexibility in accommodating neurodivergent people in adventure education contexts.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.identifier.citationNewcombe N, Good GA. (2025). Navigating Outward Bound: a first-person exploration of situational exposure through an autistic lens. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. Latest Articles.
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s42322-025-00191-x
dc.identifier.eissn2522-879X
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn2206-3110
dc.identifier.piis42322-025-00191-x
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/72636
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherSpringer Nature on behalf of Outdoor Education Australia
dc.publisher.urihttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42322-025-00191-x
dc.relation.isPartOfJournal of Outdoor and Environmental Education
dc.rights(c) 2025 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectAutism spectrum disorder
dc.subjectComfort zone
dc.subjectOutdoor education
dc.subjectSituational exposure
dc.titleNavigating Outward Bound: a first-person exploration of situational exposure through an autistic lens
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id499946
pubs.organisational-groupOther
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
499946 PDF.pdf
Size:
641.68 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Evidence
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
9.22 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles