Searching for acceptance: challenges encountered while raising a child with autism

Abstract

Background: Autism, a severe childhood disorder, affects the family system in dramatic ways.

Method: Fifty-two parents of children with autism were interviewed to explore their struggles and their successes qualitatively.

Results: Five challenges that emerged from these family's experiences were: Development, Questioning, Devastation, Solutions, and Growth. Every parent described the confusion that resulted from their child's behavioural presentation and the feelings of loss and devastation that occurred after discovering their child has autism. Parents, however, were swift and eager to mobilise resources to help their child, sometimes in any possible way. Almost every parent described significant, positive experiences that resulted from raising a child with autism, despite the hardships.

Conclusions: The findings of this study provide important considerations for professionals and families.