Parent/caregiver experiences of raising a young child with autism spectrum disorder

Understanding the experiences of parents raising a child with a disability is vital for the development of effective and meaningful support services. With the use of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory (1979), a transcendental phenomenological inquiry was conducted with 11 parents who had young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Findings from a brief demographic survey and in-depth interview reflected the families' experiences in raising their young children with ASD spanning four categories: the impact of ASD on parents, exclusion of families in service delivery, inaccessible social and governmental support, and societal knowledge and perception of disability. The findings emphasized the need for accessible government and social supports for all families raising children with ASD and that the services be family-centered. Further, media plays an important role in changing perceptions, countering stigma, and raising public awareness about ASD.