Gauri Divan|Vivek Vajaratkar|Miraj U. Desai|Luisa Strik?Lievers|Vikram Patel
Challenges, Coping Strategies, and Unmet Needs of Families with a Child with <scp>A</scp>utism Spectrum Disorder in <scp>G</scp>oa, <scp>I</scp>ndia
Sangath|Sangath|Sangath|Ospedale San Paolo|University of Milan|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
autism spectrum disorders asd increasingly recognized developing countries like india however little known experiences parents raising child asd study aimed describe experiences families goa india view understanding unmet needs families raising child asd twenty indepth interviews nine focus group discussions carried families children asd key community stakeholders special educators teachers parents typically developing children qualitative data triangulated explore experiences life impact unmet needs raising child asd key findings suggest raising child asd puts tremendous strain families due competing commitments often leading initial social withdrawal later reintegration social networks second impact multidimensional involving personal sphere also extending wider community negative experiences discrimination third parents actively respond challenges range approaches help existing new social support networks health care providers fourth professionals health education religious sectors low awareness unique needs families living asd leads considerable economic emotional burden families finally consequence experiences several unmet needs identified notably supporting increasingly isolated families limited access multidisciplinary evidencebased services asd autism res 2012 5 190200 2012 international society autism research wiley periodicals inc