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This is a final report on findings from the project Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes and Neurodiversity. This project is the first international study to explore the experiences and perspectives of domestic abuse practitioners who work with autistic and/or ADHD men who do not have learning disabilities. This study focuses on obtaining practitioners’ perspectives and experiences of working with this cohort, the challenges faced, the individual strengths they bring, and the adaptations necessary to make perpetrator programmes and interventions more responsive to neurodivergent men and provide safety to victim-survivors. Policy, research and practice recommendations are included.
The research has concluded and the output has been added to the ANROWS library. Please visit https://www.anrows.org.au/register-of-active-research/ for more information on the RAR.
Project title:Â Domestic violence perpetrator programmes: How do they respond to neurodiversity?
Project description
Background
This project seeks to explore the experiences and perspectives of professionals working in organisations that provide a domestic violence perpetrator programme (DVPP) element as part of their services, to identify the challenges and strengths of neuroatypical individuals and make interventions more responsive to them.
Aim
The aim of this study is to identify organisations that deliver domestic violence perpetrator programmes/men's behaviour change programmes (DVPPs/MBCPs) to male perpetrators and have adapted these for those who are autistic and/or have ADHD but do not have learning disabilities.
Methods
The project will map relevant services and programs across the United Kingdom and Australia to identify available provisions for neurodivergent perpetrators of domestic abuse and family violence. The study is in two parts:
1. an online survey to map services across the United Kingdom and Australia
2. a video-/audio-recorded interview with an expert organisation representative/practitioner working within the context outlined above.
Significance
Most (if not all) DVPPs internationally have been developed with a neurotypical perpetrator population in mind and are therefore not necessarily responsive to neurodivergent men. This study will address this gap in knowledge and practice by asking expert organisations/practitioners about how they have adapted their programmes to be responsive to this cohort of men and/or what could be done to develop future programmes that are suitable for their needs.
Project contact
Dr Nicole Renehan
Funding body
Economic and Social Research Council (UKRI)
Project start date
January 2022
Project end date
September 2022
