Asperger Syndrome and Maternal Experiences : An Exploration of Raising Children with Asperger Syndrome

ISBN-13: 9783639159394 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 164 str.

Sharon Link

Opis

The purpose of this work was to explore the lived experiences of mothers of children with Asperger Syndrome. Based on the stories of interviewed mothers, themes were analyzed and significant findings were identified. Relevant themes included (a) the experiences of stress during pregnancy and birth; (b) grief and frustration after diagnosis; (c) mothers needing and receiving emotional support; (d) maternal advocacy for the child; (e) major systems shortfalls including family, medical and educational, future expectations; and maternal advice to other mothers. From these relevant themes, four significant findings became the pinnacle of this work. These findings included failures of the educational, medical, and family systems, the vital role of the mother in providing advocacy for the child, the phenomenon of stress during pregnancy, and future expectations coupled with future planning. Because their stories contribute to understanding about this topic, this work has implications for current theory and professional practice with children identified with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.

O autorze

Dr. Sharon Link is a mother of an autistic child, consultant,
and presenter. Dr. Link currently is the Executive Director for
Autism Disorders Leadership Center, a non-profit research center
and is co-founder of Asperger Interventions & Support, Inc. a
professional development firm. To learn more visit
http://autismleadership.org.