Living with autistic spectrum disorder: parental experiences of raising a child with ASD

The focus of the study was to explore parental experiences
of raising a child with autistic spectrum disorder
(ASD). A mixed-method approach consisting of questionnaires
and semi-structured interviews was used
in order to elicit parental perspectives of raising a
child with ASD. Two semi-structured interviews were
conducted with parents of children with ASD. Questionnaires
were sent to parents of children with ASD in two
special schools. The findings indicate that although
each of the parents had a child with ASD, their experiences
were all different. Many interesting accounts
were documented and a wealth of information regarding
the characteristic traits that children with ASD
portray was recorded. The findings suggested that the
majority of the parents experienced a low level of
support from agencies and professionals. The general
verdict was that of poor communication and a lack
of understanding of parents’ needs following formal
diagnosis. Finally, a series of coping strategies were
discovered ranging from family support to paid help.sufl_1505 37..45