Challenges In Raising Children With Auti st ic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), From The Fami ly Systems Perspective: With Special Emphasis on 'Nia Foundation-loy Center'
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Date
2013-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study tri ed to explore the psychological, social and economic challenges faced by parents of
children with autism. To this end, qualitative research design was used in order to have an indepth
understanding of the matter where the selected study site was Nia foundation-Joy center
for children with autism and related developmental disabilities. By using interview guide as data
collection tool, sufficient data was collected where twenty research participants were selected
purposively. The accounts of the study participants were analyzed rigorously Lls ing thematic
anal ysis. The thematic analysis was based on interrelated steps involving translating and
transcribing the collected data, coding and categorizing where it was reached at maj or themes.
Findings of this study showed that the psychological challenge of parents raising children with
autism was mainly stress, the social challenges were interruption of family system, lack of public
awareness about autism, inadequate social service, limited social support and controlled social
life and the economic challenges were effect on earnings and expenses. In addition, parents with
low economic status were found to experience higher psychological social and economic
challenges mainly because of lack of support in the above three dimensions. This research
concludes the mandate that parents of children with autism need to get psychological, social and
economic support from all stakeholders mainly government, community, service giving
agenci es, and social work practitioners.
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Keywords
social and economic challenges faced