Autism and the beleifs of carers

            With reference to a specific condition associated with learning disabilities how may the beliefs of family carers effect their response to and their.
             treatment of the person with the disability?.
             This essay will begin with a brief and general explanation of the learning disability to be discussed, which will be autism. After refreshing ourselves with the disability, there will be a summary debate of the most common beliefs and feelings that family carers will go through. These will show how the treatment of the child changes, as well as the essentially negative results. Using a simple and effective "bow-tie" diagram, the power challenges within a household will be explained, then a following discussion on the process of family carers forming attributions and expectations of the child. The essay will conclude with the findings examined and my opinions expressed. .
             To start with, this essay is primary concerned with the parents, rather than siblings, as the family carers. This is because the parents make up the vast majority of the actually caring. Siblings do help out and have feelings and beliefs that may effect the offspring with learning disabilities, but on the whole, not nearly as much as the adults. Also, with the case of autism, family carers can only go so far, it's a fact they need professional help. The essay has a general theme, which shows how finding qualified help for the disabled child is the key aid they need to develop to their potential.
             Autism is a rare condition; just 2-4 children out 10,000 suffer from it. Kanner 1943 first identified and diagnosed this condition. He drew up 4 major symptoms of autism, which are still the basic criteria for judgment today: a) inability to form relationships with people, b) Lack of spontaneous play, c) serious abnormalities in the development of language and communication, d) an obsessive insistence on particular routines.