Challenges of Mothers of Autistic Children: A Way Forward to Empowerment

Description

Nivedita Raul and Sayantani Behura (Department of Gender Studies, Rama Devi Women’s University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha)

Understanding common challenges and realities that mothers face while raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder is of utmost importance in the current scenario, keeping in view the increasing instances of ASD. For mothers of children with ASD, child rearing brings a whole set of new challenges. Finding empowerment while trying to raise a child with ASD can be challenging. This paper discusses the issues and challenges of mothers raising a child with ASD and the ways that can empower the mothers. The purpose of this research is to explore the psychosocial realities of mothers with children having ASD, to gain insight into their lived experiences, and to identify the policy concerns to address the empowerment of these mothers. A qualitative study has been done, and a purposive sampling technique has been used to select the participants. They were interviewed using a pre-generated interview questionnaire and feminist standpoint epistemology has been taken into consideration to conceptualize their narratives. Using thematic content analysis, six central themes were identified, namely, Initial Response to the Diagnosis, Caregiving Challenges, Stigma and Social Exclusion, Worry about the Future, Financial Implications, and Marital Discord. This study highlights the substantial efforts invested by mothers in raising a child with ASD and also suggests ways to empower them. It curtails their right to equal opportunity by limiting their life choice. Current research contributes to an in-depth understanding of these mothers and calls for substantive policies.