"Autism doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a parent who never gives up": A Family Resilience Perspective to Exploring the Views of Black and Minority Ethnic Parents of Children with Autism

This research sought to adopt a family resilience perspective to exploring the views of Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) parents of children with autism. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with ten parents with the aim to elicit what was meaningful to parents.
The purpose of this research was to adopt a strength-based approach to investigate the views of BME parents of children with autism as they negotiate their way through the education system. The existing literature concentrates principally on a largely problemfocussed narrative around parents’ experiences of raising a child with autism. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to emphasise a family’s strengths and resources, using a family resilience framework to explore processes that enable families to thrive.
The data was analysed using thematic analysis with themes emerging around family and relationships, values and beliefs and response to diagnosis. Overall, the findings illustrated a diverse range of experiences, values and beliefs that contributed to the resilience demonstrated by all the families. The main findings indicate overwhelming support for the positive aspects of raising a child with autism that are embedded with values and beliefs across individual, family and cultural contexts. The qualities of resilience demonstrated by families enabled them to function and remain optimistic in challenging situations.
The research reflects implications for Educational Psychologists with respect to adopting culturally sensitive and strength-based approaches to working with families from diverse backgrounds. The qualitative paradigm has provided insight into understanding parents’ views and values on raising a child with autism, and their hopes for the future.