Brief Report: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Asian American Families with Children with Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, even prior to the pandemic, little research explored the experiences of Asian American families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. This brief report summarizes the results of a survey conducted between May and July 2020, in the immediate aftermath of state and local lockdowns due to the pandemic. Twenty-five Asian American caregivers of children with autism and other developmental disabilities completed the survey and reported on the pandemic’s impact on their household. Most of the caregivers were mothers, immigrants, Chinese, raising children with autism, and highly educated. Participants’ primary concerns were the disruption of their children’s educational and therapeutic services. We discuss research limitations and implications.

Impacts of health care service changes implemented due to COVID‐19 on children and young people with long‐term disability: A mapping review

“…Parents felt unable to meet their children and young people's needs or access support and held worries over the long‐term impact on their child 6,94 . Nevertheless, some families cited the reduced demands on their child as having a positive impact on their child's well‐being, often describing reduced anxiety 6,95 . Parent carers also reported that children's communication skills had improved 6,53 …”

“…6,94 Nevertheless, some families cited the reduced demands on their child as having a positive impact on their child's well-being, often describing reduced anxiety. 6,95 Parent carers also reported that children's communication skills had improved. 6,53 Telehealth and parent carer management…”

Comparing Anxiety Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Mothers of Children with and without Neurodevelopmental Disorders

“…Different studies investigated the influence of the virus on different populations from various points of view: physiological, psychological, social, and economic [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. A sensitive population, the population of parents, has been the focus of different researchers [ 35 , 60 , 61 ], and some have focused on the most sensitive group of parents and children with developmental disabilities [ 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Only one study in Serbia has investigated the challenges of raising ASD children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic [ 38 ].…”

Paternal Resilience in Time of Pandemic: A Phenomenological Inquiry on the Experiences of Fathers of Children with Autism

“…Children were observed to transition into a worsened behavioral and social state because of the aforementioned factors (Latzer et al, 2021). Specific research on the impact of the pandemic on Asian American families with children with developmental disabilities shows that the primary concern was the disruption of children's education and therapeutic services (Dababnah et al, 2021) in which parents tried to provide the best that they can.…”