Social Work Commons^™

Lived Experiences Of Young Adults Raised With A Sibling With Autism, Lamika Demitris Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When a child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the family structure is affected. Although researchers have documented increased stress and depression among parents of children with ASD, they have not adequately explored siblings’ perspectives on the emotional, physical, and/or psychological implications of having a brother or sister with ASD. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore siblings’ lived experiences of growing up in a household with a sibling with ASD. The conceptual framework for this study was grounded in the siblings embedded systems framework (SESF), which helps contextualize siblings’ experiences, including interacting factors, and how these experiences …

School Social Work And Autism Competency: A Mixed-Methods Assessment Of Pennsylvania School Social Workers, Jami Imhof

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which currently affects 1 in 44 individuals in the United States. Autism manifests as symptoms that impact the areas of communication, social interaction, and behavior (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Symptoms may create challenges in the school setting, requiring social work intervention. School social workers must be knowledgeable about autism as well as how to best support autistic students. A mixed methods study was conducted among 84 school social workers in Pennsylvania to understand current autism knowledge via an online survey. Ways in which social workers have learned about autism, as well as …

Square Pegs Community Arts On Campus, Gabrielle Marina Ortega-Miller

MSW Capstones

My capstone project started with a qualitative research study exploring the value of music through the voices of Autistic adults, for without their voices—whether verbal, non-verbal, or verbally limited—it is difficult to know what the value of music is in their lives. The inclusion and leadership of Neurodivergent Black, Indigenous, and students of color (BIPOC) in the UWT Neurodiverse community is one focus of this project; the other is to provide a community space for all Neurodivergent students at UWT to feel welcome and safe, create art, and support each other. Square Pegs Community Arts on Campus is built on …

Square Pegs On Campus: Autism And Inclusion At University Of Washington Tacoma, Heather Dawn Swanson

MSW Capstones

Research findings show Autistic students struggle with communication and social interaction and are at risk of failing and/or dropping out of school. Additionally, the social construct of disability and ableism negatively affect the inclusion of Autistic students. While conducting research that included interviewing UW Tacoma students and staff, I learned there are zero Autistic-specific services, support groups, or Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), and there are more than 29 Autistic students attending UW Tacoma. Disability Resources for Students (DRS) reported there are 29 professionally diagnosed Autistic students receiving academic accommodations based on their official autism diagnosis. Not all Autistic students have …

Social Justice: A Catholic Autistic Perspective, Rebecca Schneider

Honors Projects

This is a collection of short stories about social injustices impacting the autistic community and how Catholic Social Teaching supports a more just approach. It is written from an autistic perspective and informed by the stories of people who are actually autistic. Each story is followed by an analysis that explains the choices made, which are backed by both research and the experiences of the autistic writer and the autistic community. This collection also includes information on how justice can be attained on the individual level by allies and on the institutional level by organizations.

Caregivers' Challenges In Accessing Services For Children With Autism, Anita Payne Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The perspective of the caregiver is vital to understanding the experiences of raising a child with autism, including the challenges faced in accessing services. The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of primary caregivers raising a school-age child with autism and to bring about an understanding of the challenges faced in accessing services. Resiliency theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 participants raising a child with autism in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Data were analyzed using Moustakas's descriptive approach. Results yielded 5 themes: overall …

Socioeconomic Status And Autism Spectrum Disorder : Caregivers' Solutions To Overcoming Service Barriers, Rachel Rodriguez

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study attempted to remedy the existing research gaps by asking: How does SES of caregivers for children with ASD influence their ideas of service barrier solutions? The purpose of this study was to examine caregivers’ perspectives of service barrier solutions and how SES influences their ideas of solutions. It was hypothesized that high SES caregivers would report experiencing less service barriers than low SES caregivers; therefore, there would be a difference in their ideas of solutions. This study explored sources of information, service barriers, ideas of solutions to barriers, and how solutions may improve caregivers’ abilities to care for …

Social Work Students Ability To Identify Signs Of Autism In Children, Heather Nicole Hopkins

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of students in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program to correctly identify signs of autism in children by completing a survey. This research project was conducted in collaboration with California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and the MSW program by using MSW students as participants. The study used a survey designed with items that measured the knowledge of participants. The results of this study may be beneficial to the Director of Social Work, future MSW students, and professors to examine how well the current MSW program is preparing students …

Developmental Impact Of Inclusion Classrooms On Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review, Emily E. Aller

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review examines the developmental impact inclusion classrooms have on children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). An extensive review of current literature resulted in nine articles included in this study. The common themes identified in the literature include: social interaction; teacher preparedness; impact of age on education; and individuality of education. Results indicated that the educational setting alone does not impact the development of children with ASD. Further research needs to be completed in order to fill the gap in literature regarding the cognitive developmental impact educational settings produce and determinants of the best educational setting for children …

Somali Parents And Their Perceptions Of The Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis, Aragsan Samatar

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The design of this research study is a qualitative methodology utilizing semi- structured interviews. The purpose of this study was to explore specifically how Somali parents experience, perceive, and understand their child’s diagnosis, the diagnostic process, and treatment services. A total of four Somali parents were interviewed for this research study. Following the interviews, themes that were identified during the analysis process involve understanding of autism, support, and feelings during the diagnostic process, self- advocacy and education. The themes discovered in this study were similar to many of the key themes present in the Autism and Somali related literature. However, …

The Challenge Of Divergent Diagnosis In Relation To Diagnosing High Functioning Autism, Mallori Avery Sheik

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Autism diagnosis is on the rise, yet there continues to be no specific characteristics or symptoms connected to high functioning autism in how it presents or varies in presentation in primary school aged children. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using in depth interviews to examine characteristics and symptoms presented by primary school aged children, components of an accurate assessment, training of professionals diagnosing and assessing, and looking at why there continues to be divergent diagnosis among professionals and across settings. Themes that emerged from the data were assessment process, barriers to the assessment process, presentation of HFA, professional judgment …

Effectiveness Of Proloquo2goTm In Enhancing Communication In Children With Autism During Aba Therapy, Taylor Eastin Krcek

Doctoral Dissertations

Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disorder presenting in early childhood that has a profound effect on an individual's ability to communicate. The iPad® with the Proloquo2Go^TM app is a multilingual Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution designed to assist people who have difficulty speaking or cannot speak at all. This study examines the effectiveness of the Proloquo2Go^TM app delivered via iPad® to enhance the tacting, manding, and verbal completion repertoires of children with autism. Participants included five children between the ages of three and four years old diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with low to …

Autism And The Impact Of The Siblings’ Identities, Marya Dumke

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be an overwhelming experience for the caregivers and families of those diagnosed. According to estimates from Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, about 1 in 88 children have been identified with an autism spectrum disorder. This is a small, qualitative study that explores the impact ASD has on siblings and their identity development. Previous research regarding this subject has focused primarily on the sibling’s stress and experiences when growing up with a child diagnosed with ASD. However, there is little to no literature on ASD impact on a sibling’s …

School Social Workers’ Role In Supporting Parents Of A Child With Autism, Maureen V. Foster

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This quantitative research study explored the role of the school social worker in supporting parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Surveys were emailed to members of the Minnesota School Social Workers Association. Participants were asked to complete the survey if they worked as a school social worker and supported students with ASD. The survey investigated the impact of an ASD diagnosis on the parental stress and what role school social workers had in supporting parents’ needs. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the school social workers’ role and identify what supports …

Parents Perceptions Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Katelyn Retaskie

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study examines the parents of children with autism spectrum disorder perspectives on the initial diagnosis. This research is of qualitative design in which four mothers of children with autism were asked a series of interview questions. The results indicate an emotional impact on not only the mothers, but the family as a whole. In addition the results indicate a need for more education around the topic of autism itself. Implications for social work indicate a need for change at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Supporting Families Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Marnie Tuenge

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative research study examines the challenges that families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face when implementing their child’s treatment objectives. Likewise, this study investigates which strategies families utilize to actively participate in family skill objectives to implement their child’s treatment plan. Three caregivers (two women and one man) were recruited from around the state of Minnesota to participate in this study. A series of open-ended and scaled questions were asked of participants and the interviews were audio-taped for transcribing purposes. A literature review was written to highlight some of the expressed challenges and strategies families utilized and …

The Experiences Of Latino Parents As They Navigate Care For A Child With Autism, Emily Tibbetts

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative study explored the experiences of Latino caregivers as they navigate care for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Six caregivers participated in a semi-standardized interview containing 14 questions. The data obtained was analyzed using a phenomenological approach to find common themes in the participants’ experiences. Findings were organized into two broad themes and sub-themes of positive experiences with service access and delivery and negative experiences with service access and delivery. The sub-themes of positive experiences were as follows: communication, support systems, collaboration, education, and luck. The sub-themes of negative experiences were language access and interpretation, lack of …

"Where's The Support?": An Exploratory Study Of Supports For Primary Caregivers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In The Toronto Region, Nicole H. Siron

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The experience of being a caregiver of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is complicated and fraught with obstacles. Presently, we do not know how to support caregivers adequately. In this thesis, I explore the supports that exist for primary caregivers of children with ASD in the Toronto region, with the goal of examining caregiver experience when accessing supports. The literature that I reviewed highlighted the importance of examining the caregiver experience by acknowledging that caregivers of children with ASD experience elevated levels of stress. This review made it clear that by not addressing how to support caregivers, the …

Perspectives On Living Situations For Children With Classic Autism, Meghan Constantini

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this qualitative study was to interview parents of children with severe autism and professionals work in residential settings to understand their perspectives of living situations for children with severe autism. Challenging behaviors occur with more frequency and intensity in children with severe autism. Living situations have been shown to have a negative impact on behaviors and the quality of life of a child with autism, as a typical home setting can be over stimulating and overwhelming to children with autism due to the nature of their diagnosis. (Nasir & Tahir, 2012). Findings from previous research show that …

Visual Media And Asd: Impact On Social Interactions Of Adolescents, Audra J. Hanly

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There’s a wealth of research that provides evidence of an association between visual media and behavior problems among typically developing children. However, no research was located that examines the association between these variables in adolescents with ASDs. This current study begins to fill this gap in literature while examining possible positive effects of visual media on social behavior through the following research question: What effect does visual media have on the social interactions of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders? The design of the present study was a cross-sectional, quantitative study in which twenty participants completed an online questionnaire.

The present …

The Experiences Of Families With A Child Diagnosed With Autism, Lauren M. Snyder

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative research study explored the experiences of families who have a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Surveys were sent out to families at a local agency, and seven parents responded. The survey investigated the impact of the child’s diagnosis on the parental relationship, stress levels, feelings of social support, and self-care techniques. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the experiences of these families with an autistic child, and to gain insight into where they need more support from professionals in the field. The content of the surveys was transcribed, coded, and …

Assessing Expressed Emotion Influences On Autistic Symptoms/Behaviors: A School Social Worker Perspective, Mackenzie R. Flaharty

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research paper explores how components of Expressed Emotion (Critical Comments, Emotional Over-involvement, Warmth) experienced in the classroom are influencing student behavior and symptoms for students with Autism. Qualitative data was collected from one school social worker. This study confirms and builds upon previous research on Critical Comments and Warmth. Critical comments, especially when delivered by a staff member poorly, increased maladaptive behavior and decreased social interaction and communication. Warmth inversely decreased maladaptive behaviors while increasing communication and social interaction. Emotional Over-involvement was dependent upon the individual student and neither confirms or rejects previous research. Each member of the classroom …

Sibling Relationships With An Autistic Sibling, Lori M. Kaplan

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study was conducted to determine how typically developing siblings feel about their sibling with Autism or another related disorder. The methods used were a combination of quantitative data and qualitative interviews. The quantitative data consisted of basic demographic data about the family such as the parent’s marital status, household members, and the diagnosis of the Autistic child. The qualitative data consisted of interviews with one or two typical siblings from that family.

This study interviewed eight typical siblings from six different families with an Autistic child: two of the siblings were brothers and six were sisters of a child …

Behavior & Developmental Treatment Models For Autism Spectrum Disorders: Factors Guiding Clinician Preference And Perceptions, James E. Nee

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

1 in 88 children are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, a condition that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and relate socially to other people, as well as cause a person to partake in repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. There are several interventions parents and professionals can utilize to remediate the three core deficits of Autism, however the theories behind what should be focused on in these treatment models are very different. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the factors that guide clinicians’ preferences and perceptions of a behavioral and developmental model as well as analyzed the interventions for autistic …

Parental Involvement In Early Intervention Programs For Children With Autism, Kaylee A. Nelson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Research shows that increased parental involvement has a positive impact on children with autism; however, there is a need for continued research pertaining to how their involvement improves and/or influences outcomes of their children with autism (Walker, Wilkins, Dallaire, Sandler, & Hoover-Dempsey, 2005). This study set out to investigate the ways in which parents of children (ages 2-7) with autism are involved in their children’s early intervention program(s) and how this involvement influences their child’s social skills and behavior. More specially, this study explored the association between parental involvement and the behavior and social skills of children with autism receiving …

Divorce Mediation And Its Impact On Children, Brianna L. Nelson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The percentage of children experiencing divorce in the United States and around the world has dramatically increased in the last fifty years and currently affects one million children every year. Divorce mediation can be helpful and beneficial for families when resolving emotional and familial conflict, which could decrease the negative effects divorce can have on children. This research aims to address the decision making process that mediators use when deciding to include children in the mediation process. A qualitative study was conducted, in which professional mediators were interviewed regarding the decision making process used to determine whether or not children …

Parental Involvement In Early Intervention Programs For Children With Autism, Alexis Bennett

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of mental health professionals and practitioners of parental involvement in early intervention programs for children with autism. Interviews were completed with eight mental health professionals and practitioners to better understand the importance of parental involvement, the role parents play within an early intervention program, and the impact parental involvement or lack there of can have on the child’s success developmentally and their success in the early intervention program. The objective of this study was to gain insight into mental health professionals and practitioners perceptions in order to learn ways for social workers and professionals …

Interventions For Multicultural Children With Autism, Stephanie Kitzhaber

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative study examined the interventions that are helpful when working with multicultural children who have autism and their families. Data was collected through five semi-structured interviews (n=5) with professionals who work with children who have autism, which included a variety of psychotherapists, social workers, mental health practitioners, and counselors. Grounded theory methods and open coding were used to analyze codes in the data to record common themes from the interviews. Themes found from this study were separated into five categories: language, importance of play, family education, gender roles, and stigma. Findings from this study were consistent with some of …

The Somali Community's Experiences With Autism: An Exploratory Study, Jessica Kuenzli

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Recent studies indicate that children of immigrants are up to four times more likely to have an autism diagnosis than the general population (Barnevik-Olsson, Gillbert, & Fernell, 2008). Emerging research demonstrates that Somali immigrants are one of the immigrant groups disproportionally affected by the condition (Minnesota Department of Health, 2009). The purpose of this study was to explore how the Somali community experiences and perceives the condition of autism. The study consisted of interviews with community professionals who work with Somali families affected by autism. The findings of this research indicate that autism is a new concept for many Somali …

The Geek Syndrome… A Study Of The Impact Of Asperger’S On The Family, Richelle H. Kramer

Culminating Projects in Social Work

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of Asperger's Syndrome on the family. The study employed a qualitative research approach with a life story design. A purposeful sample of six families with children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome/Autism (AS) was used. In most cases, both parental caregivers of the . identified biological or adopted children, consisting of five boys and one girl, were interviewed. The interview consisted of a free flowing conversation addressing the impact that Asperger's Syndrome has had on the family. The Care Giver Strain Tool was informally used as a guide to ensure all relevant …