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Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the Helping Children with Autism Package
(HCW A) from the perspectives of a sample of participating parents with a child with Autism
Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The evaluation focused on parental self-efficacy and indirectly
on parental stress and the parents' reported child outcomes. To date in Australia there is little
descriptive data on parents' perceptions of the HCWA package or its effectiveness to help
ameliorate negative factors associated with parenting a child with ASD. The HCWA funding
package is an early intervention program designed to provide suppmi, programs, and
interventions to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders ASD under the age of seven and
their parents.
A 43 item questionnaire entitled Parents Perceptions Questionnaire (Wilson & Hay
2011) was developed to gather the data. This instrument included both open ended questions
and Likert scale questions. The sample comprised 20 participants, all of whom were parents
who had accessed the HCW A package.
Overall, the parents repmied positive outcomes associated with their participating in
programs linked to the HCW A package. In particular they reported improved educational
outcomes for their child and higher levels of suppmi and self-confidence as a parent. The
parents valued the oppmiunity to have both choice and greater access to intervention services
and repmied a strong desire for the continuation of the HCWA package after their child
turned seven years of age. The findings support the notion that access to early intervention
programs improves the developmental outcomes for the child and compliments and supports
families in their care-giving role.

Item Type:	Thesis - PhD
Authors/Creators:	Wilson, KD
Keywords:	Autism spectrum disorder, intervention, parental stress, well-being
Additional Information:	Copyright the Author
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