Siblings with Autism: A South Asian Perspective

With diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders on the rise, family members impacted by autism form a growing population.

This thesis considers intersectionality in the context of families living with autism, paying close attention to the role that culture can play, in shaping their lived experiences.

The systematic literature review explores the experiences of parents of children with autism, across a wide range of cultures.

Nineteen qualitative studies of parent voices were critically evaluated and the evidence synthesised thematically.

Findings suggested ten key cross-cultural parental experiences, leading to a number of implications for professionals working with parents from diverse backgrounds.

Aside from their parents, the most significant family members in the lives of many children with autism are their typically developing siblings.

The existing research base highlights a gap regarding the experiences of siblings from minority ethnic groups in the UK, with South Asian communities being one such underrepresented group.

The empirical paper addresses this gap by privileging the unheard voices of four South Asian adolescents, each with a brother or sister with autism.

Through a case study design involving vignettes, in-depth interviewing, drawings and solution-focused questioning, these young people shared their experiences of growing up with their autistic siblings and offered their views on the support they would find beneficial.

Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified in relation to support for siblings and many more concerning the complex individual experiences of the participants.

Implications for further research and the professional practice of educational psychologists are discussed.

This thesis concludes with a chapter on the dissemination and impact of the present research, within which a range of potential beneficiaries and dissemination pathways are considered.