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Parents experience of having a child with autism and learning disabilities living in a group homeA case studyLund University, Sweden, ylva.benderix{at}med.lu.se
Lund University, Sweden
Lund University, Sweden Some children with autism and learning disabilities also have aberrant behaviours that are difficult to regulate and stressful for both the child and family members. This case study concerns experiences of 10 parents from five families before and 2 years after entrusting their 10- to 11-year-old child with autism to a group home. Hermeneutic phenomenological analysis of narrative interviews with the parents before the childs moving showed them experiencing grief and sorrow, total exhaustion because of inability to regulate their childs behaviours, social isolation, and negative effects on the childs siblings, but experiencing themselves as more sympathetic than previously towards other people with problems. Two years later they experienced relief for the family due to the group home arrangement and the childs improvement, but with an ethical dilemma which made them feel guilty, despite increased hope for the future. Some also felt unhappy with the staff situation at the group home.
Key Words: autism exhaustion group home parents respite Sweden
Autism, Vol. 10, No. 6,
629-641 (2006) This article has been cited by other articles:
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