Problems of Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Challenges Faced by Their Parents in Rearing

Abstract

The paper aimed at understanding the common and specific problems of girls with ASD and their parents’ challenges in rearing. By using a qualitative research approach, the case study method was adopted, and a semi-structured interview schedule was used as a tool of data collection. The Sylhet City Corporation was the area of the study. As ASD girls were not fully cooperative for giving information, the parents of ASD children, medical service providers, and teachers were the respondents of the study. The thematic analysis was considered for data analysis and interpretation. The study reveals that children with ASD had multiple common and specific problems in their growing-up period. They had some specific problems compared with the same-aged girls. At the same time, parents faced so many challenges in their raising period. The common problems are looking after them, their education, fulfilling their basic needs, etc. There are some specific problems like looking after them during the menstruation period, taking them outside, etc. The parents had many challenges in their looking after. The common challenges are always remaining one of the parents with their girl, financial crises, fulfilling the medical treatment, and facing the bad comments from the outside people.