What youths with autism spectrum disorder and their parents want from social competence programs

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Date
2017
Authors
MacCormack, Jeffrey W. H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Western University
Abstract
Program designers develop a wide range of intervention programs to address the social challenges faced by children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but it is not clear how those programs are perceived by families of youth with ASD and the extent to which those programs are accessed. To explore the perceptions of families of youth with ASD, 12 youths with ASD and 15 of their parents participated in 45– 60 minute interviews about social intervention programs and completed the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition. According to the families, the social programs created to help youth with ASD to socialize have not addressed their needs. The adolescents sought programs that provided activities that matched their interests and that were appropriate for their developmental stage. The parents reported that they were frustrated by barriers to service and weaknesses of design, which were obstacles to accessing programs that supported their children’s development.
Description
Permission to post published version.
Keywords
Autism spectrum disorder , Intervention programs , Youths with ASD , Social Responsiveness Scale , Social competence , Families of youth with ASD
Citation
MacCormack, J. W. H. (2017). What youths with autism spectrum disorder and their parents want from social competence programs. Exceptionality Education International, 27(1), 116-146. Retrieved from http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/eei/vol27.iss1/7