“How Parents Accept Their Child's Autism?”

York University
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts
PSYC 4170 6.0D

“How Parents Accept Their Child's Autism?”
A quantitative study

I, Carol Shum, have a developmental disability. I was diagnosed at the age of 8. However, my parents have never fully accepted my disability. As a result of this, I have always wondered why my parents had such a difficult experience. Consequently, for my honour’s thesis, I will conduct a study to understand how parents accept their child’s Autism.

The study will involve one short, ten minute survey with parents of Autistic children. This questionnaire will take place over Internet - E-mail. After I have received an e-mail reply agreeing to participate and upon the completion of an informed consent form, a survey will be sent out to the specified e-mail address.

At this time, there may be no direct benefits for participating in this project. I hope that insights gained will help parents and perhaps educators better understand the components necessary for parents’ full acceptance of their Autistic child.

To ensure confidentiality, the informed consent form and the questionnaire will be sent to a specified e-mail address. Also, your identity will not be disclosed in any published document. Your e-mail address, name, and all other identifying characteristics will be disposed from the records, upon the completion of this research project.

It is important to note that participation is voluntary, without remuneration, and that you may withdraw your consent and discontinue participation in this research at any time without prejudice to oneself.

If you are a PARENT of AN AUTISTIC CHILD and wish to participate in a short survey, please use your e-mail and reply to carolkshum@yahoo.ca . In the message, please type in a SPECIFIED E-MAIL ADDRESS, where we may exchange information confidentially.

Thanks goes out to all who participate!