Browsing by Author "Eksteen, Nana"
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- ItemRaising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder : the role of parent support systems(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Eksteen, Nana; Daniels, Doria; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Educational Psychology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is currently being diagnosed in one in every 59 children worldwide. It is considered one of the most stressful childhood disorders for parents to cope with, and it has been associated with the escalation of economic-, social-, physical- and psychological strain on families, as well as a decrease in overall family well-being. Parents, who are faced with the challenges of raising a child with ASD, are often in great need of social support. Social support can be provided in various forms and come from a variety of sources. Research on parents’ support needs for a child with ASD and the ways in which they perceive different support systems is important, as it could increase public understanding of effective support systems for such parents. This study on the support systems of parents of children with ASD is situated within the field of educational support, because parent support is an integral part of learner support. This qualitative study explored the value that support systems have in the lives of South African parents who are raising a child with ASD. The individual lived experiences of four parents with regards to their support needs and –systems were researched as guided by the following research questions: • What are the support needs of parents raising a child with ASD? • What are the experiences of parents with the support systems that they use? • Why do parents raising a child with ASD endorse some support systems over others? With narrative inquiry as design, I sought to tell the stories of these parents. My understanding was that of multiple realities that are constructed by individuals who share similar, but also unique, life experiences. I positioned myself in the interpretive paradigm, as I wanted to understand the individual lived experiences of these parents with regards to their support needs and –systems. Data was collected by conducting individual in-depth interviews with the four purposively selected parents who are the primary caregivers of a child with ASD, for the rich and useful information they could provide. What the study revealed was that such parents face many personal-, family- and social challenges that stem from their child’s maladaptive behaviour and for which they need reliable support systems. The support these four parents relied on included personal resources, family support, friends, therapists and schools. The findings of this study have implications for how the learning-support environment needs to engage with children with ASD and their parents. What the narratives of parents of children with ASD tell us, is that the support needs and valued support systems of each parent of a child with ASD are just as much on a spectrum as the children with ASD are. Therefore, there should exist an understanding that, though families of a child with ASD share similarities, each family’s circumstances are unique, making it important to understand their specific needs and to support them and their child with ASD accordingly.