Autistic Research Paper

The term autistic was first used in 1912 in the American Journal of Insanity. The terms use became widespread when Kanner the founder of child psychiatry called, “the inability to relate themselves in the ordinary way to people and situation,” infantile autism. (Kanner 1943) Despite continued research through the years no one knows exactly what causes autism spectrum disorder. Biological basis have been studied, psychologists search for behavioral causes, and parents are on a quest to find the answer to, “why my child?” Autism spectrum disorder is not discriminatory, its affects are felt worldwide, cross educational backgrounds, and differing beliefs. Parents seek out information so have a good knowledge of complexities of ASD, many of these parents need to find meaning in the experience. The beliefs parents embrace as to the causes of ASD will be
They don’t regard their ASD child as being either a reward or punishment, but are dependent on God to help them know what is right for them and their child. This faith helps these families to make sense out of their situations, helps them cope and see things in a larger perspective. There is no blame placed on anyone, “God makes everybody with different gifts and different areas of lacking.” This belief is a source of help and strength and allows the parents and family to cope and come together and move forward. Faith doesn’t provide a cure for ASD but definitely provides an acceptance, and a way to live with it. Although as professionals we can’t advise that religion might be helpful; if parents bring it up we can acknowledge their faith and support them, “It has long been recognized that religious beliefs can help families make sense out of tragic events such as the diagnosis of a child’s disability.” (MacIntosh, Silver,& Wortman, 1993)

Culture/belief