The Dignity of Risk: Why It Matters for Autistic Children

Liz Lee
Dec 12, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Jan 15

TL;DR Risk Doesn’t Diminish Dignity. It Builds It

Supporting dignity of risk for autistic students isn’t about exposing them to harm. It’s about honouring their agency, fostering growth, and building confidence through experience. When we balance support with autonomy, we help students discover what they’re capable of, sometimes more than they (or we) imagined.

Adult teaching a child how to rise a bike outside

As a parent, your instinct is to protect your child, to keep them safe from harm, hurt, and disappointment. That instinct comes from love. But when it comes to helping your autistic child grow into an empowered, confident adult, too much protection can sometimes backfire.

This is where a concept called “dignity of risk” becomes a game-changer. I recently learnt this not so new concept in my latest Landmark course, and had to write this blog post.

What Is the “Dignity of Risk”?

The term dignity of risk was first articulated in the early 1970s by disability rights advocate Robert Perske, who argued that people with disabilities have the right to make choices - even if those choices involve risk. Overprotecting someone may seem caring, but it can actually undermine their dignity and self-confidence by depriving them of learning through real experiences. PubMed

Research in disability services has since expanded the idea, describing how people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) benefit most when allowed to participate actively in life decisions while supported rather than controlled. PubMed

At its heart, dignity of risk means:

Life involves risk, and taking reasonable risks is essential for learning, growth, independence, and self-worth. Publications ICI

Why This Matters for Autistic Kids

Parents of autistic children may notice that their child:

hesitates to try new tasks without support,
avoids situations that feel uncertain,
starts to doubt their own abilities when adults constantly step in,

These patterns can happen because protection, even with the best intentions, can unintentionally teach dependence instead of confidence.

Studies on disability and dignity of risk show that when people are overly shielded from real-world challenges, they can miss out on key opportunities for growth and self-determination. PubMed

While research directly about dignity of risk in autism remains emerging, the principles translate well: kids learn by doing, making decisions, experiencing consequences, and figuring out what works. When we remove all risk, we remove opportunity.

Real-World Examples for Parents

Here’s what dignity of risk can look like at home and in daily life:

1. Chores and Responsibilities

Overprotection: You do laundry for your teen because you “know it’ll be too stressful.”

Dignity of Risk: Your teen learns laundry with a step-by-step visual guide and your support nearby.

They may make mistakes, but they learn how to do it.

2. School Work Challenges

Overprotection: You redo assignments so your child gets “good grades.”

Dignity of Risk: You help them organize the task into chunks, set up a quiet space, and let them try, even if it takes longer.

3. Social Situations

Overprotection: You cancel social activities because they might be difficult.

Dignity of Risk: You plan the outing with breaks, exit options, and a simple script, and let your child try participating with support.

But Isn’t Safety Important? (Yes - Just Balanced)

Dignity of risk doesn’t mean danger first. It means balancing safety with autonomy.

Researchers working in disability care talk about strategies like supported decision-making, tools and conversations that help individuals understand choices and weigh consequences before deciding, not just protecting them afterwards. PubMed

So your job isn’t to remove every risk, it’s to help your child make informed choices and stand beside them when things don’t go as planned.

Tips: How to Practice Dignity of Risk

Here are strategies you can start using today:

1. Break It Down

Start with tiny risks, like choosing their snack, trying a new food, completing a small task, deciding what to wear. These build decision-making muscles.

2. Support Rather Than Solve

Instead of saying,

“Let me do that”

Try:

“Let’s figure out how you can do this, I’ll help where needed.”

This subtle shift centres your child in their own life.

3. Use Visual Tools

Checklists, schedules, timers, or scripts can reduce anxiety and let your child take the lead. I will add that generally these are good tools to use with autistic individuals who thrive on routine and structure, however if you also have PDA mixed in, these can literally be thrown in the garbage, (Yes, I have had many 'sticker progress charts' ripped and thrown out by my PDA autistic son..).

4. Reflect Together

After taking a risk, successful or messy, talk about:

What worked?
What was hard?
What will you try next time?

This helps your child learn from experience instead of dread it, ultimately fostering a growth mindset. It also support their metacognition, and ultimately makes them self-determined.

5. Prepare for “Hard,” Not Just “Safe”

Everyone stumbles sometimes. That’s part of life. When your child experiences disappointment with support, they learn resilience.

What Research Says (In a Nutshell)

Here are a few accessible studies and papers that speak to dignity of risk and decision-making in disability support:

Academic and Clinical Articles

Beamon, Beamon, & Leff (2025) discuss dignity of risk as an ethical principle and how protective approaches can unintentionally diminish autonomy. OUP Academic
Articles on dignity of risk in community living show how service providers work to balance freedom and safety for people with developmental disabilities. PubMed
Clinical perspectives on dignity of risk point to supported decision-making as a way to include people with intellectual disabilities in their own life choices. PubMed
Broader developmental research explores how adolescents’ need for autonomy relates to risk and growth, which carries over into parenting minds. PubMed

(All of these principles support the idea that giving children the chance to risk, with solid support actually builds skills, confidence, and dignity.)

Final Thoughts

Raising an autistic child is a journey filled with wonder, worry, and so much love. The dignity of risk doesn’t ask you to stop caring, it asks you to trust your child’s capacity to grow with support, not just protection.

And when they surprise you with what they can do? That’s one of the greatest joys of parenting.