Including Children with Autism in Family Activities: A Qualitative Study
Graduation Date
2006
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Stacy Frauwirth, MS, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
The prevalence of autism has dramatically increased in the United States over the past 20-30 years. The purpose of this research thesis was to study the strategies parents use to include their children with autism in family activities, how the parents developed the strategies, and how their strategies changed as the children matured. The research design chosen for this thesis was a descriptive qualitative research method using semi-structured interviews to gain a comprehensive summary of the parenting strategies of children with autism. The results of the study found three themes: “autism runs their lives”, “looking out for my child and me , and leaving nothing to chance”.