Many autistic adults continue living with their parents rather than living independently, regardless of their IQ levels. In studies about adaptive housing, their perspective is still lacking. To address this gap, our research aims to offer insight into, first, autistic adults' experiences of living independently, and second, what role the housing environment plays in these experiences. A qualitative study was set up to investigate what living independently means to two autistic men. The

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... suggest that living independently for them means (1) living in proximity of public facilities, retail stores and family, (2) self-determining their apartment arrangement, daily living activities, and (3) having nearby social contacts to cope with regular domestic stress and anxiety. Comparing their experiences suggests that social and physical factors of the housing environment are not detached, but could strengthen each other in supporting their independent living. The combination of social and physical factors facilitates living independently for these men, which resonates with the paradigm of independent living. A better understanding of autistic people's lived experiences is crucial to develop housing options which enable them to live independently.