Blindness and Autism : Parents’ Perspectives on Diagnostic Challenges, Support Needs and Support Provision

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with or without intellectual disability (ID), is common in children with congenital blindness. This complex combination of disabilities often involves many challenges for the family. This study explored parents’ experiences of having a child with blindness and ASD (with or without ID), their support needs and experiences of the support provided. Interviews with eight parents, representing six families, were performed. The parents emphasized that assessment and diagnostic procedures must be performed by professionals with expertise in blind children’s development, and ASD. The support was often perceived as fragmented and did not correspond to the families’ needs. The results suggest that national guidelines should be produced, to ensure a more coordinated and tailored support to these families.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Autism

Blindness

Children

Assessments

Parents’ experiences

Support

specialpedagogik

Special Education

Assessments; Autism; Blindness; Children; Parents’ experiences; Support

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)