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ERIC Number: EJ1489423
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3432
Available Date: 2024-07-24
Autistic People's Perspectives on Parental Diagnosis Disclosure: A Grounded Theory Study
Nitsan Almog1; Einat Haya Keren2; Tamir Gabai2; Orit Kassel1
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v55 n10 p3647-3661 2025
Being diagnosed with autism has multiple implications for a person's life and self-identity. Although learning about autism at a younger age is correlated with quality of life, only a few studies have addressed parental disclosure thereof. This study conceptualizes autistic adults' perspectives on parental disclosure. The methods combine grounded theory with the emancipatory research paradigm, drawing on autistic people's personal knowledge. Eighty-five autistic adults participated in six focus groups (51 male, 33 female, 3 non-binary; M[subscript age] = 25); and 41 autistic adults were interviewed (22 male, 17 female, 2 non-binary; M[subscript age] = 28). Both focus groups and individual interviews addressed the way participants learned about their diagnosis from their parents, and their recommendations to other parents on how to disclose. Based on these findings, we developed autistic-driven recommendations for parental disclosure process. The participants viewed the diagnosis as validating their experienced otherness, helping them overcome shame, and promoting their self-understanding and self-advocacy skills. They recommended disclosure as soon as possible after diagnosis and stressed the importance of gradual disclosure according to the child's abilities. Furthermore, they suggested focusing on how autism manifested in the child's own life, rather than "autism" in general. Finally, they recommended presenting autism as a neutral or positive quality, highlighting its strengths and networking the child with other autistic individuals. In conclusion, this study reveals that parental disclosure is an ongoing and spiral process. The proposed model contributes significantly to post-diagnostic support for parents, providing a framework for effective communication about autism with their children.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Ono Academic College, Disability Studies Program, Department of Education and Societal Studies, Kiryat Ono, Israel; 2Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel