3). .
Introduction.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a spectrum of complex, neurological, and developmental disorders characterized by deficits in reciprocal social interaction and communication, along with the presence of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped interests and behaviors. These deficits manifest in early development and are pervasive in nature, affecting individuals throughout their lifespan. The impairments germane to ASDs not only affect the diagnosed individual but also his or her caregivers, family, teachers, and community. The current prevalence rates of ASDs are estimated at approximately one in 88 children in the United States (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2012). The rate of ASDs diagnoses in the United States and elsewhere has shown a sharp increase in the past three decades (Lord and Bishop2010), and much of the research has thus been dedicated to developing better understanding of biological and genetic markers related to the etiology and manifestation of ASDs. However, research on interventions designed to help individuals with ASDs and their families has been comparatively more limited. Further, intervention literature to date has demonstrated some significant limitations, including small sample sizes, a lack of randomized, controlled trials, and disagreement over appropriate outcome measures (Lord et al. 2005; Odom et al. 2010; Rogers and Vismara 2008; Smith et al. 2007). One additional, notable limitation has been the exclusion of assessing how ASD treatments impact parents and families, who often take on a crucial role in the intervention process. This review will examine how parents and families are affected by having a child with ASD, the role they play in various intervention modalities, the effects these interventions have on caregivers and siblings, and how changes in parents and families reciprocally affect children with ASD. The first part of this paper will help to clarify what Autism is, give an insight to the disability/medical, functional, vocational, psychosocial implications associated with the disorder.
