Exploring the Challenges of Canadian Parents of Children with ASD: A Preliminary Needs Assessment to Support Minoritized Parents

Caring for a child with ASD can demand a lot of energy and time. Parents may feel overwhelmed and stressed, a reality more pronounced for parents from minority groups. The present study conducted a preliminary needs assessment to acknowledge any prominent gaps in the literature. We asked: (a) What supports do racially, ethnically, and/or culturally diverse parents rely on to support their autistic children? (b) What are the associated challenges with seeking support? Parents participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that parents rely on services offered by healthcare providers, education specialists, and social service programs to support their children in the public and private sectors (e.g., ABA, SLP, OT). Five central issues/challenges emerged: (1) Long wait times associated with healthcare (2) High price of private care (3) Difficulty accessing information following the diagnosis of their child (4) Pervasive language barriers (5) Issues related to professionalism and competence from professionals.