Toastmasters Could Benefit Autistic Speakers

A study suggests that participating in Toastmasters may have many benefits for autistic people, including improved communication skills, increased self-confidence, and stronger social connection. Dr. Sasha Zeedyk, an associate professor in the child and adolescent studies department at California State Fullerton, and Dr. Yasamin Bolourian, director of outreach and dissemination at the University of California, Los Angeles, Tarjan Center, conducted the study from 2021 to 2023.

Zeedyk and Bolourian became interested in Toastmasters in 2020. The two were invited to visit the Orange County Asperger’s Support Group (OCASG) Toastmasters Gavel Club by the founder, Judi Uttal, DTM.

The researchers used an Organization for Autism Research grant to conduct the study.

An advisory team, including Uttal, four autistic Toastmasters, and a parent of an autistic Gavel Club member, provided guidance to the researchers during regular planning sessions. In the study’s first phase, researchers interviewed 22 autistic Toastmasters.

Most said they not only developed stronger speaking skills in the program but also were able to participate in speech contests, create a social community, and form close relationships.

Bolourian notes that participants appreciated the speech evaluation process, which helped them appreciate other people’s perspectives.

In the study’s second phase, Zeedyk and Bolourian conducted a 10-week Speechcraft program with 18 autistic non-Toastmasters.

Each participant had a Toastmasters mentor, who helped with speech preparation.

At the end of the program, participants said they felt more confident and comfortable with public speaking.

“The numbers are trending in the right direction for other outcomes [as well], such as loneliness, anxiety, and leadership skills, but we didn’t find clear evidence of improvements as a result of participation,” Bolourian says.

“More research needs to be done,” adds Zeedyk. “We need to have more people and a longer program.”

The researchers also found that mentors enjoyed the experience and expressed a desire to help in future studies. Participants felt they benefited from having a mentor, although some expressed a need for additional mentorship and autism-specific accommodations. “We want to find a way to maximize the mentorship aspect of the program,” says Bolourian.

“Feedback needs to be concrete, specific for autistic speakers to get anything out of it,” Zeedyk elaborates.

Both researchers and Uttal agree that Toastmasters may be beneficial for autistic people.

“This study has shown the value of Toastmasters in helping individuals on the spectrum,” says Uttal, “proving that it not only helps their communication skills, but also improves their sense of self and connects them to a community.”

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