Short Breaks Services for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Factors Associated with Service Use and Non-use

Abstract

Short break services in a UK county were studied using a postal survey of 256 families with a child with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Results confirmed high degrees of stress and low levels of informal support for all families, but no significant difference in the informal support available to non-users as compared to users of short break services. Robinson & Stalker's (1990) 10-point dependency scale showed a significant difference in dependence and more difficult behaviors between children of users and non-users. However, a large number of non-users had children with high dependence (scoring >7 points). Access was denied by the age of the child (under 11) diagnosis (Asperger syndrome), educational placement (mainstream) and lack of social worker referral.

Obtaining the views of children and young people with autism spectrum disorders about their experience of daily life and social care support

“…Ninety‐one families participating in a previous postal survey (Preece & Jordan, 2007) had indicated that they would be willing to participate in further interviews. Dimensional sampling (using the dimensions of: the child with ASD’s level of dependence, their specific diagnosis, their age, the number of adults/children in the household and the family’s area of residence) was used to identify seventeen families to invite to interview.…”

The Concept of Respite Care

“…Various caregiver populations have been studied, including: children with chronic illnesses (Campbell, ; Odnoha, ; Thurgate, ); physical disabilities (Cavanagh & Ashman, ; Doig, McLennan, & Urichuk, ; Palisano et al., ); cognitive disabilities (Hoarse et al., ; Preece & Jordan, ; Wilkie & Barr, ); and developmental disabilities (Chan & Sigafoos, 2001; Cowen & Reed, ; Mullins, Aniol, Boyd, Page, & Chaney, ). Respite care has also been studied among caregivers of adults with physical (Dawson & Liddicoat, ) and cognitive disabilities (Mansell & Wilson, ).…”

Providing training in positive behavioural support and physical interventions for parents of children with autism and related behavioural difficulties

“…Almost half of the 66 family carers who participated in McGill et al's (2005) study reported receiving no support, or none that was useful. The presence of challenging behaviour and family dissatisfaction with support may continue as the child becomes an adult (Hatton et al, 2010), and difficulties accessing appropriate services can be heightened in the presence of conditions such as Asperger syndrome (Preece and Jordan, 2007) or attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH), 2008).…”