Availability of supportive services for children with autism spectrum disorder in Kuwait: parents’ perspectives “exploratory study”

Objectives This study aimed to explore parents’ perspectives and levels of satisfaction regarding the availability of supportive health and educational services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Kuwait. Methodology A descriptive approach was adopted, using a questionnaire as the primary data collection tool. The study sample consisted of 82 parents, randomly selected from families of children with ASD in Al-Ahmadi Governorate. The questionnaire assessed two main dimensions: supportive health services and supportive educational services. Results The findings indicated that the availability of supportive services for children with ASD in Kuwait was generally high. The mean score for health services was 4.12 (SD = 0.43), followed by educational services with a mean score of 4.14 (SD = 0.56). Demographic variables, such as monthly family income, did not significantly affect the difficulties faced by parents ( p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed between families with one child ( n = 80) and those with more than one child ( n = 2). Families with one child rated health services higher (4.14 vs. 3.01), whereas families with more than one child rated educational services higher (4.22 vs. 3.23). However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the very small number of participants in the group with more than one child, which limits reliable statistical comparison. Overall, families with one child had a higher overall mean rating (4.17) compared to those with more than one child (3.11), reflecting potential differences in experiences and challenges between the two groups. Conclusion The study concludes that Kuwait has made significant progress in providing supportive educational and healthcare services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Parents generally reported high levels of satisfaction with both types of services, reflecting the government’s commitment to inclusive policies, strong financial support, and continuous investment in developing specialized centers and healthcare programs. However, certain areas—such as the implementation of modern therapeutic techniques and the adoption of international best practices—still require further development and greater investment in research and professional training.