Families of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: analysis of mother’s textual comments in an online discussion forum

• Autor(a) principal: Machado, Marisa Maia
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.34624/id.v8i5.2503

Active listening is essential for supporting family functioning within families embracing children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The support networks have an important role to play in order to ensure the healthy development of all children. Following a qualitative research approach, bounded within an interpretive paradigm, we proceeded to a case study, analysing content of comments posted by 26 mothers in the last three years on an online forum discussion, with the purpose of contributing for better knowledge of the needs, worries and difficulties of mothers regarding their children. Since the needs more expressed by the mothers were focused on requesting information and support from other mothers with children with ASD, we may conclude that online contact between mothers can be a positive agent towards awareness of this disability and that family support networks forsupporting families, it could well contribute to decrease isolation and loneliness and also meet their needs. At that emphasize the importance of Early Childhood Intervention, whose effective helpgiving practices can contribute to improving the quality of life of families.