Autistic Adult Services Availability, Preferences, and User Experiences: Results From the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the European Union Survey

There is very little knowledge regarding autistic adult services, practices, and delivery. The study objective was to improve understanding of current services and practices for autistic adults and opportunities for improvement as part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the European Union (ASDEU) project. Separate survey versions were created for autistic adults, carers of autistic adults, and professionals in adult services. 2,009 persons responded to the survey and 1,085 (54%) of them completed at least one of the services sections: 469 autistic adults (65% female; 55% <35 years old), 441 carers of autistic adults (27% female; 6% <35 years old), 175 professionals in adult services (76% female; 67% in non-medical services). Top choices by autistic adults, carers or professionals for services best suiting their current needs were: residential services: "help in own home" (adults, carers of high independent adults, professionals), "fulltime residential facility" (carers of low independent adults); employment services: "job mentors" (adults, carers of high independent adults, professionals), "Sheltered employment" (carers of low independent adults); education services: "support in regular education setting" (all groups); financial services: financial support in lieu of employment ("Supplementary income for persons unable to have full employment" for adults, "full pension" for carers of low independent adults) or to supplement employment earnings for carers of high independent adults and professionals; social services: "behavior training" (adults) and "life skills training" (carers and professionals). Waiting times for specific services were generally < 1 month or 1-3 months, except for residential services which could be up to 6 months; most professionals were uninformed of waiting times (>50% responded "don't know"). Five of seven residential services features recommended for autistic adults were experienced by <50% of adults. The knowledge of good local services models that work well for autistic adults was generally low across all services areas. The variation in services experiences and perceptions reported by autistic adults, carers, or professionals underscore the need to query all groups for a complete picture of community services availability and needs. The results showed areas for potential improvement in autistic adult services delivery in the EU to achieve recommended standards.

Empowerment in Polish fathers of children with autism and Down syndrome: the role of social support and coping with stress - a preliminary report

BACKGROUND

Although empowerment is an important factor in the adaptation of parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, our understanding of empowerment in fathers or how it relates to coping with stress and subjective social support is limited. In Poland, families with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience many challenges because of insufficient support. Although parental contribution to developing different forms of services for people with disability is crucial, the potential of fathers is underestimated and poorly understood.

METHODS

The study enrolled 35 fathers of children with autism with intellectual disability, 37 fathers of children with Down syndrome and 40 fathers of typically developing children. They completed three questionnaires: Family Empowerment Scale, Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Social Support Questionnaire - Short Form.

RESULTS

Compared with other groups, family empowerment was lower in fathers of children with autism. No group differences were found for the service system and community dimensions of empowerment. In the fathers of children with autism, social support was not related to empowerment, but there was a negative correlation between emotional coping and service system. Satisfaction with social support in fathers of children with Down syndrome correlated positively with the community dimension of empowerment.

CONCLUSIONS

Results show that fathers of children with autism and intellectual disability require support in family empowerment and that the significance of emotion-focused and problem-focused coping and social support in the context of empowerment differs in fathers of children with autism and Down syndrome. These results should be considered preliminary because of the limited sample size.

Examining cross-cultural differences in autism spectrum disorder: A multinational comparison from Greece, Italy, Japan, Poland, and the United States

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social and communication impairments as well as restricted, repetitive behavior patterns. Despite the fact that ASD is reported worldwide, very little research exists examining ASD characteristics on a multinational scale. Cross-cultural comparisons are especially important for ASD, since cultural differences may impact the perception of symptoms. Identifying behaviors that are similarly reported as problematic across cultures as well as identifying behaviors in which there is cultural variation could aid in the development and refinement of more universally effective measures. The present study sought to examine similarities and differences in caregiver endorsement of symptom severity through scores on the Baby Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT). The BISCUIT was utilized to examine ASD core symptomology in 250 toddlers diagnosed with ASD from Greece, Italy, Japan, Poland, and the United States. Significant differences in overall ASD symptom severity and endorsement were found between multinational groups. Implications of the results are discussed.

Parenting stress and coping styles in mothers and fathers of pre-school children with autism and Down syndrome

BACKGROUND

The study examined the profile of stress in mothers and fathers of preschool children with autism, Down syndrome and typically developing children. A further aim was to assess the association between parenting stress and coping style.

METHODS

A total of 162 parents were examined using Holroyd's 66-item short form of Questionnaire of Resources and Stress for Families with Chronically Ill or Handicapped Members and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations by Endler and Parker.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated a higher level of stress in parents of children with autism. Additionally, an interaction effect was revealed between child diagnostic group and parent's gender for two scales of parenting stress: dependency and management and limits of family opportunities. Mothers of children with autism scored higher than fathers in parental stress; no such differences were found in the group of parents of children with Down syndrome and typically developing children. It was also found that parents of children with autism differed from parents of typically developing children in social diversion coping. Emotion-oriented coping was the predictor for parental stress in the samples of parents of children with autism and Down syndrome, and task-oriented coping was the predictor of parental stress in the sample of parents of typically developing children. The results strongly supported earlier findings on parenting stress in parents of children with autism. They also shed interesting light on the relationship between coping styles and parental stress.

[Pervasive developmental disorders: controversies concerning the classification of autism]

Autistic Disorder was described by Leo Kanner in 1943. Since that time not only the name of this disorder (initially early infantile autism) has changed but also it's relation to other disorders. DSM-IV includes autism together with Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified into one category: Pervasive Developmental Disorders. The definition and contents of Pervasive Developmental Disorders raise many controversies. Differentiation between particular disorders within this category is also difficult. This paper discusses some of these problems.

[Early detection of autism in children. Review of literature]

The difficulties with early detection of autistic disorder in children are discussed. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria are presented. Usefulness of clinical interview and clinical experiment in diagnosing autistic disorder are analyzed.

[Coping strategies and psychological well-being in mothers of children with disabilities]

The purpose of the study was to determine relationships between coping with stress and well-being in mothers of developmentally disabled children. Marital, parenthood and global life satisfaction were analyzed. Two interesting relationships between coping strategies and well-being (marital and global life satisfaction) were found. The results are discussed in terms of parental stress experienced by mothers of children with disabilities.