“It was like walking without knowing where I was going”: A Qualitative Study of Autism in a UK Somali Migrant Community

Fox, Fiona; Aabe, Nura; Turner, Katrina; Redwood, Sabi; Rai, Dheeraj

doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2952-9

Cited by 61 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(11 reference statements)

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“…Accordingly, providing speech and language interventions in both languages may help to alleviate the common risk of language attrition in the minority language (Bird et al 2016a). Considerations about cultural factors must also come to the fore when practitioners are advising multilingual parents, as certain communities may have concerns about the stigmatization of an autism diagnosis (Fox et al 2017;Ijalba 2016). Beauchamp and MacLeod (2017) and Lim et al (2018) call for more support for families wishing to raise their child on the autism spectrum bilingually.…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental Perceptions and Decisions Regarding Maintaining Bilingualism in Autism

Howard

Gibson

Katsos

2020

J Autism Dev Disord

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A growing body of evidence suggests that bilingual exposure does not negatively impact children on the autism spectrum. This study sought to illuminate parents' perceptions and choices regarding maintaining bilingualism in autism. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 family members in England and Wales. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Although parents expressed positive attitudes towards bilingualism, these views were not always congruent with their language practices. Instead, several factors influenced decisions about language maintenance in autism, including the severity of the child's autism, advice received, and the importance of English as the dominant societal language. This article calls for greater support for families in making language decisions that are suitable for the individual child and their family.

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Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental Perceptions and Decisions Regarding Maintaining Bilingualism in Autism

Howard

Gibson

Katsos

2020

J Autism Dev Disord

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“…Dillenburger et al [10] found that people from ethnic minorities were twelve times less likely to have heard of ASC, compared to those not from an ethnic minority. An example of cultural differences in attitude towards ASC within the UK can be found in the British-Somali community [21]. Qualitative research conducted with Somali migrants living in the UK has found that there is little acceptance of ASC as a condition among this population, and there is no word for 'autism' in the Somali language [21].…”

Section: Cultural Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should Autism Spectrum Conditions Be Characterised in a More Positive Way in Our Modern World?

2020

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In a special issue that focuses on complex presentations related to Autism, we ask the question in this editorial whether an Autism Spectrum Condition without complexity is a disorder, or whether it represents human diversity? Much research into Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASCs) over the years has focused on comparisons between neuro-typical people and people with Autism Spectrum Conditions. These comparisons have tended to draw attention to 'deficits' in cognitive abilities and descriptions of behaviours that are characterised as unwanted. Not surprisingly, this is reflected in the classification systems from the World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association. Public opinion about ASC may be influenced by presentations in the media of those with ASC who also have intellectual disability. Given that diagnostic systems are intended to help us better understand conditions in order to seek improved outcomes, we propose a more constructive approach to descriptions that uses more positive language, and balances descriptions of deficits with research finding of strengths and differences. We propose that this will be more helpful to individuals on the Autism Spectrum, both in terms of individual self-view, but also in terms of how society views Autism Spectrum Conditions more positively. Commentary has also been made on guidance that has been adjusted for people with ASC in relation to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

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“…While an overview of the study findings has been published elsewhere (Fox et al 2016), stigma was identified as a key feature of the parenting experience which warranted further analysis. In this paper we explore the nature of stigma experienced by these parents and consider how they coped with or resisted such stigma, drawing on current stigma theory.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%