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Belief Systems of Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders or Down Syndrome

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gking27{at}uwo.ca.

	Abstract

Parents in sixteen families of children with autism spectrum disorders or Down syndrome participated in a qualitative study examining family (i.e., all caregivers in the home) belief systems. All families had children who had recently entered elementary school or who were in the early years of high school. As a result of their experiences, families reported becoming more certain about what matters. Families adopted perspectives of optimism, acceptance and appreciation, and of striving to change the environment to meet their children’s needs. These perspectives provided families with a sense of hope, meaning, and control over their situations. The findings indicate the strengths and resilience of families in the face of life’s adversities. Implications for families and service providers are discussed.

First published on January 7, 2009, doi:10.1177/1088357608329173

Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 2009;24:50.

A more recent version of this article appeared on March 1, 2009


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