ERIC Number: EJ1082460
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Dec
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: N/A
"On the Sidelines": Access to Autism-Related Services in the West Bank
Dababnah, Sarah; Bulson, Kathleen
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v45 n12 p4124-4134 Dec 2015
We examined access to autism-related services among Palestinians (N = 24) raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the West Bank. Using qualitative methods, we identified five primary interview themes. Poor screening, diagnostic, and psychoeducational practices were prevalent, as parents reported service providers minimized parental concerns and communicated ineffectively with the caregivers regarding treatment options. Geographic barriers and financial burdens prevented many families from seeking or maintaining services. Limited service availability was a dominant barrier: parents reported limited or denied access to education, community-based services, and ASD-specific interventions. Consequently, several families noted their children did not receive any services whatsoever. Research, practices and policies to address the shortage of services for children with ASD are urgently needed in the West Bank.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Health Services, Children, Statistical Analysis, Interviews, Clinical Diagnosis, Screening Tests, Psychoeducational Methods, Outcomes of Treatment, Barriers, Geographic Location, Financial Problems, Help Seeking, Access to Education, Access to Health Care, Caregivers
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Palestine; West Bank
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A