FACES: Developing and Implementing an Empowerment Program for African American Families of Children With Autism

• In Event: Important Issues in the Education of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Children with autism and their families often face challenges accessing early intervention and related services. African American children face additional challenges due to disparities in diagnoses and access to services. These disparities present a great need for parent advocacy to combat barriers such as culturally insensitive service delivery and strained parent-professional partnerships. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of a six-week parent training intervention (FACES) on perceptions of advocacy and empowerment among African American parents of children with autism. Multiple sources of data were collected and mixed to refine the intervention and to assess the effectiveness of the program. Results indicated that parents’ perceptions of their sense of empowerment, advocacy skills, and community support were strengthened following FACES.

Authors

• Jamie Pearson, North Carolina State University

• Hedda Meadan