68 Session 2
Advancing Comprehensive Early Childhood Intervention Symposia S2.04 Parenting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges, Resilience, and the Evolving Role of Professionals Symposium Organizer: Jasmina Ivšac Pavliša (Croatia) Affiliation : University of Zageb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences Behind the increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) lies a compelling reality that reshapes the lives of countless families. Recent reports from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD by the age of eight. The developmental, behavioral, and communication challenges of children with ASD often lead to increased stress and a lower perceived quality of life for parents compared to those raising typically developing children or children with other developmental disorders. In addition, the increasing prevalence of ASD leads to a differentiation in the support available to families. Recent studies suggest that social support and higher levels of parental education significantly reduce parental stress, while income level does not appear to be a significant predictor. They also show that the key to developing resilience lies in the unexpected power of informal social support from family and friends. In terms of support, the majority of parents feel that their presence at support sessions is not essential and that professionals are the ones who can “fix“ the child. All of this begs the question: How can professionals meet the needs of families where they really are? This symposium will address the challenges and opportunities of parenting children with ASD and highlight the need for professionals to re-evaluate the support they provide to better meet the needs of families. Contributing Papers Parental Perspective on Support for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Presenting Author: Jasmina Ivšac Pavliša (Croatia) Affiliation: University of Zageb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences Parental Stress and Coping Strategies in Mothers of Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Presenting Author: Blanka Brdarić (Croatia)
Affiliation: University of Zageb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences Quality of Life for Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Presenting Author: Sanja Šimleša (Croatia) Affiliation: University of Zageb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences What Parents of Autistic Children Really Need?: Evaluation of Parent Support Group Presenting Author: Ana-Marija Bohaćek (Croatia) Affiliation: University of Zageb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
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