ABSTRACT

Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significant social communication challenges that impact key areas of life, including relationship and employment success. Evidence points to great potential for social communication growth in adults with ASD; however, families’ access to supports and services is limited by lack of funding and accessibility. Scant research has been dedicated to unearthing the experiences of adults with ASD and their parents pertaining to social communication supports and services. This qualitative study gathered perceptions from 17 parents through focus groups aimed at determining barriers to and gaps in the system of social communication supports and services for adults with ASD. Using a phenomenological approach, conceptual content analysis was used to examine the parents’ perceptions and determine coding categories. Analyses revealed a number of barriers to effective use of such services and supports, and wishes for changes to facilitate services and supports in this area. Implications for professionals and policymakers are presented.

摘要

患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的成年人面临重大的社交沟通挑战，这些挑战会影响生活的关键领域，包括关系和就业成功。有证据表明，成人自闭症患者的社交传播潜力巨大。但是，由于缺乏资金和可及性，家庭获得支持和服务的机会受到限制。很少的研究致力于发掘患有ASD的成年人及其父母有关社交交流支持和服务的经验。这项定性研究通过焦点小组收集了17个父母的看法，这些焦点小组旨在确定针对ASD成人的社会沟通支持和服务系统的障碍和差距。使用现象学的方法，概念内容分析用于检查父母的感知并确定编码类别。分析显示，有效使用此类服务​​和支持存在许多障碍，并希望做出改变以便利该领域的服务和支持。介绍了对专业人士和政策制定者的影响。