Impact of Autism

(Exceptionalities.)

Amanjeet Kaur Sandhu

Department of Childhood Studies, Keyano College

CHSD -201Child Development II

April 15, 2022

contains the study of three research papers based on Autism. Firstly, I highlighted the paper

“Impact of Autism on Families.” Here, the paper discussed the family's situation and the stress

level of raising an autistic child. Furthermore, the following paper summarizes the strategies

opted by teachers to make an autistic child part of the inclusive class environment. It also reflects

the method to promote the learning of children with autism in an inclusive classroom. Finally,

this report also highlighted the author's research methodology and recommendations.

Impact of Autism

Introduction: Autism is a neurological disorder in which a child cannot socialize and

communicate with others. Autism symptoms appear before the age of 3 and continue for a

lifetime. The child diagnosed with autism usually have difficulty with social, communication,

and comprehensive skills. Children with autism also have difficulty in understanding and

showing emotions and feelings. People who identify with ASD may also have other problems

like sleep disorders, speech and language delay, and seizures. ASD severity may range from mild

to severe. Children may sometimes depend entirely on caregivers for their routine, while others

lead independent lives and can develop social and verbal skills. It is usually found more in male

children rather than female children. However, there are no specific reasons known for autism

disorder. Early diagnosis of autism is difficult because there is no defined medical test to

diagnose ASD, but early assessment helps monitor the signs and symptoms. A person suffering

from this disorder cannot coordinate several body organs properly (Hollander, 2003). Some

research suggests that ASD may be due to genetic and environmental factors. The stress on the

family is significantly imposed when they know that child is diagnosed with ASD.ASD affects
many areas of life, such as finances, parents' physical and mental health, siblings’ relationships,

Relationships with their extended families, and the material status of couples.

Moreover, the statistic revealed by WHO, around 0.76% of the world’s children had the impact

of ASD, but no precise data was available from developing countries in the year 2010. The

purpose of this study is to find the effects of ASD on families and their level of difficulty in

dealing with the situation. How inclusive classroom settings help Autistic children socialize and

equip them with valuable life skills and peer relations help foster behaviour and social

interaction.

Scholarly Articles:

The articles were chosen based on autism and its impact on family and peer support in inclusive

classrooms. This study aims to determine the effect on family and interaction between family

members. The second paper describes the benefits of an inclusive classroom structure that

promotes to achieve the development of the autistic child in concern of social interaction and

behaviour. It also shows the appropriate strategies chosen to support the autistic child and help

them to include in mainstream life.

1. Impact of autism spectrum disorder on Family

According to the article, families with autistic children face various challenges in parenting and

providing good care to children. It also impacts the quality of life they live. They face many

other challenges in front of them, like restricted relationships with others, financial issues, the

emotional and mental health of parents, marital relationships, the physical health of family

members,

Furthermore, recreation and leisure activities they can have. A study shows that children with

autism face various challenges that can significantly negatively impact parent and family
functioning. Also, it can create significant stress among all family members. (Begum R et

al.,2009). This paper discussed and showed the impact of ASD on the entire family relationship

individually between parents and siblings. It also shows the effect separately on mothers, fathers,

and siblings. The challenges begin at starting and go on for a lifetime. ASD impacts not only the

entire family but also the extended family system. So, therefore this paper suggests that a

supportive social environment helps to lower family stress.

Methodology

The method of study of this paper is a narrative review to evaluate the impact of autism on the

family.

Selection criteria based on the following selection:

The studies considered only children with ASD; the data was collected from 1990 to 2017. The

sample of data considered only children.

Findings:

The impact of autistic children on entire family relations and extended social life. It also shows

the stress level of both parents. Autism has a persistent effect on the family, economic status, and

siblings and considerably modifies the lifestyle of each family member.

2. AUTISM AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE FAMILY.

The article provides insight into families facing difficulties and challenges in raising a child with

ASD. Parents of children with Autism express their stress to raise a child with a disability than

parents raising an average child. It provides the study of the impact on relationships with other

children in the family that feel neglected and not getting attention. Similar findings were reported

in a study by Gray (1994), in which it was found that parents of children with autism experienced

higher levels of emotional stress and other feelings. Parents also express their difficulties in
getting services related to the child's therapy, such as visits to the doctor, psychologists,

hospitals, and treatments. This paper also sheds light on the stress level of parenting a mother vs.

father. As concluded, Dumas, Wolf, Fisman, & Culligan (1991) also found that families with

children with autism have higher levels of stress when compared to families with children with

Down's Syndrome, behaviour disorders, and children with typical development. The purpose of

the study of this paper is to show the influence of autism on families and their life. The impact of

autism affects not only parents' personal and professional lives. The purpose of this study is to

depict the effect of having a child with autism on the family structure and socioeconomic status.

This study focused on three main questions:

 When was autism first recognized and diagnosed?

 What is the nature of intervention services received by families of children?

With autism?

 What has been the impact on the family of having a child diagnosed with

autism?

Methodology: This paper conducted a study on a sample of 25 families with autistic children

and interviewed questions about recognition, diagnosis of autism in their child, services

accessed, and the impact of having a child with autism on their family.

procedure

The procedure for this research paper is a one-hour telephonic interview conducted with parents

of children. The discussion was structured around the three areas of interest: recognition and

diagnosis of autism, services accessed, and the impact on the family.

Data analysis:
This research was completed using a small number of people. Therefore, the data analysis was

done through the descriptive method of statistics.

Findings:

This study focuses on the impact of autism on the family. Findings showing the results are based

on three areas of interest: recognition and diagnosis, intervention services, and impact on the

family.

3. Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms.

This article aims to teach teachers effective teaching and managing strategies to support autistic

children in the classroom. The inclusive class structures help them succeed in academic, social,

and behavioural skills. In this paper, “inclusive classroom” means each child is valued equally in

the school environment. The role of the teacher is vital to know the value of strategies that helps

students to achieve academic success. This paper highlights the part of the teacher that should be

equipped with practical techniques and tool helps ASD children to prevent lacking academic

success. Additionally, it is essential to establish the value of support systems needed to assist

teachers in supporting students with ASD in inclusive classrooms. Finally, the teacher needs to

recognize children's abilities so that effective strategies can be adapted to support the ASD child

in school.

To achieve successful inclusion, the principal must display positive behaviours that embrace

inclusion, acceptance, and success of students with special needs in inclusive classrooms (Eldar

et al., 2010). An inclusive class environment benefits children with autism and typically

developing peers in learning diversity. The study shown by this paper is focused on a qualitative

approach to find the effects of successful inclusion of students in classroom environments. Their

findings indicated that students with ASD educated in inclusive classrooms have better social
skills, exhibit increased engagement and assimilation, give and receive higher levels of social

support, and have a more extensive social network and more concrete educational goals (Eldar et

al.,2010). Classroom inclusion involves the challenges teachers face to promote the inclusion of

Autistic children in mainstreams and the teacher's attitudes toward the inclusion of children with

ASD. This paper aims to adopt inclusion and teaching strategies to support a child with autism.

Methodology:

The qualitative method of study is used to collect the data. The literature review is also helpful in

establishing the similarity and differences. Data is collected through interviews, and these

interviews are formal and short. The interview was face-to-face with those with experience

teaching ASD students in inclusive classroom environments. Therefore, the sample size of this

study is two teachers who have experience learning with ASD children in an inclusive

classroom.

Findings: The recommendation given after completion of the methodology is mainly focused on

teaching strategies used by teachers to support children in an inclusive classroom. The approach

suggested by participants in the research includes peer support, scribing, hands-on

learning, cooperative learning, and visual schedules. Moreover, Peer interaction and support help

the child with ASD learn how to deal with people. The findings of this paper also illustrate the

similarities and differences in the literature review.

The findings of this research emerged as

 Teacher beliefs/attitudes.

 Teacher strategies.

 Resources.

 Benefits and challenges of inclusion.

 Teacher challenges.

 Advice to teachers entering the field of education.

Self-assessment:

This assignment allows learning more about the impact of autism on family and their situation. It

shows the insight of challenges faced by families with autistic children. If families can get

appropriate social support and acceptance, it helps in reducing their stress levels. The most

striking feature of this research is the inclusion of ASD children in the classroom. Teachers'

teaching strategies, like peer support and scribing, are significant features of supporting children

with ASD. If ASD children get the opportunity to become part of an inclusive classroom, then it

helps to learn social and behavioural skills. When a child with ASD is supported with a wide

range of resources in an inclusive classroom, it allows them to succeed academically. The

strategies define in the research paper helps educator to implement those teaching skills and

techniques in an inclusive classroom environment. The goals and findings of this research paper

allow me to develop insight into effective teaching strategies in inclusive classrooms. Even

though the shortcomings of this paper involve the small sample size for conducting the research.

Furthermore, new research needs to be undertaken to include strategies that help reduce

challenging behaviour and increase self-regulation skills in an inclusive classroom environment.

Decristofaro, A. (2016). Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms.

https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/72180/1/Decristofaro_Amanda_N_2016

06_MT_MTRP.pdf

Eilouti, B. (n.d.). Journal of Ergonomics Applied Human Factors in Residential Architectural

Design. https://doi.org/10.35248/2165-

Hutton, A., & Autism. (n.d.). DigitalCommons@UMaine Autism and its Effects on the Family

Recommended Citation. Retrieved April 16, 2022, from

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?

article=1515&context=etd