An investigation into issues related to the establishment of a parental training course to develop an early intervention home-based programme for children with autism

Abstract

Context: The aim of the proposed research is to investigate autism early intervention in Saudi Arabia, taking into account the reality that such services are in a relatively early stage of development in Saudi Arabia due to the current limited experience in the autism domain generally and in early intervention programmes specifically. As such, this study was intended to act as a basis for gaining a greater understanding about how such services could be developed in Saudi Arabia in the future. Indeed, special attention was given to the cultural specifications to see if such programmes can be implemented and adapted to fit the needs of the families in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The aim is to develop the parental training programme that emerges from parents‟ needs in relation to their children with autism in which a parental training programme can be developed that leads to the establishment of a home-based intervention programme.

Method: The constructivist grounded theory approach used to identify programme components, their implementation and effectiveness. Data collected from (20 interviews, 251questionnaires, 8 programme evaluation sheets, parental stress index short form (PSI-SF).

Results: The present study suggested a parental training course framework with a detailed description of its components, delivery approach and evaluation process. This study also provided clear evidence that the current suggested parental training framework targeted the participants' needs and provided them with the support, the information and the skills that they needed at the post diagnosis stage.

Conclusion: This result can sensitise services providers in establishing a parental training programme to help empower parents to administer some of the therapies to their autistic children that are needed on a day to day basis, with the minimal amount of stress to the parental life style.