autism spectrum disorders: personal and family factors

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Personal and Family Factors

Dr. Mary Ann Winter-Messiers, Ph.D.

University of Oregon-Laos Inclusive Education ProjectJuly 2015

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Personal and Family Factors

Personal Factors for

Children with Autism

2University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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Not Feeling Well

Children with autism often do not feel wellStomach and abdominal issuesLittle sleepSensory sensitivity

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Low Self-Confidence

Children with autism usually lack self-confidence

Face struggles and fail oftenAre unlikely to try new tasksAre hard on themselvesAre sure they “cannot do

anything right”

4University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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Depression and Anxiety

From young age, children with autism tend to have depression and anxietyWorry a lot about many thingsDon’t enjoy doing activitiesAre easily discouragedCarry worries for a

long timeMay hurt themselves

5University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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Bullying

Children with autism are more likely to be bullied, mistreated, and abused physically and verbally by others

6University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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Lack of Friendships

Children with autism usually have a hard time beginning and keeping friendships.

They do not know how to talk to other children play games with others show interest what others

care about

7University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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How Can We Help?

Listen Help child to

discover what he or she does well

focus on positive achievements

Praise and encourage child with specific feedback

8University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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Family Life with Autism

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Family Life and Autism

“Normal for us” Global impact on the

family Positive impact Negative impact

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Family

Impact on cross relationships within a family Marriage

Siblings

Grandparents

Extended Family

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Parents

Potentially especially hard on marriage

Parents Find it difficult to have time together Worry about impact on finances Are concerned about siblings Fear for the future of the child

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Stress on Mothers

Mothers of children with autism experience chronic stress consistent with the level of soldiers in combat

Mothers of children with autism feel much more tired and experience many more stressful events than mothers of typical children.

13University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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Stress on Fathers

Fathers tend to

worry about the stress on their wives

worry about family finances

worry about the futures of their children

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Siblings

Siblings Notice others reacting to their

sibling(s) with autism Are afraid to upset parents with

questions Are afraid autism is catching Love and resent sibling (time

commitment, money, sacrifices) Feel protective May experience higher parental

expectations

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Grandparents

Double burden of worry

May be anxious about how to help, may be in complete denial, may be really engaged with family

16University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສຶາຮຽນຮ�ວມລະຫວ�າງ ມະຫາວ�ທະຍາໄລ ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ

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How Can Educators Help Parents?

Listen to them Learn about autism Value insights of parents/

caregivers Communicate clearly with

parents Support child

Flexible Open

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