Analysis of the Lived Experiences of Filipino Parents of Children with ASD

Abstract

Parents having a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face a lot of challenges thus making them more susceptible to experience higher levels of stress and deal with more complex situations. This research aimed to investigate this context in a Filipino setting and as well as classify the uniqueness of their parenting style compared to typical counterparts. The phenomenological approach of qualitative research was utilized to explore the lived experiences of underprivileged parents who have ASD children This study was participated by three Filipino underprivileged mothers with ASD children. In-depth interviews were conducted; thematic analysis was utilized. Three major themes in their experiences have been derived namely: parenting caught off guard, parenting strains and struggles of ASD childcare and parenting the unique spectrum. Implications for future research to parenting education, the fields of education and mental health have also been discussed. Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD Parenting, Parents, Children