Exploring the Experiences of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Families

This paper provides an overview of the experiences of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the experiences of their immediate family members, the definition and practice of ableism, and how all three relate to the psychological well-being of these children and their families. Children on the spectrum have diverse lives and presentations just like the rest of us, but they often struggle with socioemotional functioning, sensory processing, and comorbid disorders. Parents with children with Autism also experience ups and downs like every other parent, but many take on unique parenting styles and strengths that few others can relate to. Through analysis of contemporary research and testimonies, this paper demonstrates that although individuals with ASD or other developmental disorders experience the world differently than individuals without disabilities, their diagnosis is not a problem that needs to be fixed: harmful behaviors and perceptions are. They are not doomed to a life of nothingness, and their parents and siblings are not doomed to a life of hardship.