Autism and Blackness: The role of culture and ecological contexts in black families
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Education
Abstract
The fellowship focuses on Black parents' experiences of children with autism spectrum disorder (autism). Black parents' experiences of autism are not well known, and this study recognises the importance of including their voices on what we know so far about how autism shapes parents' experiences. Autism research have explored parents' psychological wellbeing, finances, family life adjustment and navigating the system following an autism diagnosis. My PhD findings revealed similar results but highlighted how familial, community and systemic contexts influence parents experiences.
Research has not always considered the systems (community, institutions) that influence family life, which means considering parents within the context of their family's culture and exploring the impact that raising a child with autism can have on family units and members. Alongside this, it is crucial to identify and acknowledge the existing culture in the various systems and its impact on parents' experiences. My PhD findings revealed the main factors that impact Black parents experiences are cultural beliefs, disablist attitudes and structural racism in health, education and local authority contexts.
During this fellowship, I will build on my PhD work to develop a better understanding of families of children with autism, learn more about their experiences, and contribute evidence which can be used to support them in the future. A key aim will be to extend knowledge in the academic community. To achieve this, I will revise my doctoral research for publication and easily extract data from chapters of the thesis; share findings with parents of children with autism and professionals who support them to improve their lives and practice.
The activities proposed in the fellowship will focus specifically on Black parents' outcomes because we know little about their perspectives and experiences. Typically, when researchers have asked families to take part in research, it is mothers that respond and take part in answering questions about themselves, their child, and their family and so research evidence is often focused on mothers. The wider research community will benefit from research on Black fathers. As it stands, autism research on family experiences lack male and ethnic representation, and this proposed research, the first on Black fathers of children with autism in the UK, will become a tool to build knowledge and commence a process that begins to bridge this research gap. The pilot study will examine and generate knowledge of Black fathers' experiences of autism: the interplay of identities - race, gender and disabilities - will give insight to how fathers understand, experience and respond to their child's health, care and educational needs. This new project will consult with fathers of children with autism to understand how they experience autism from a cultural and racial lens. The aim of this work is to recognise fathers of children with autism, collaborate with them to better understand their needs, and to share information to benefit others.
Research has not always considered the systems (community, institutions) that influence family life, which means considering parents within the context of their family's culture and exploring the impact that raising a child with autism can have on family units and members. Alongside this, it is crucial to identify and acknowledge the existing culture in the various systems and its impact on parents' experiences. My PhD findings revealed the main factors that impact Black parents experiences are cultural beliefs, disablist attitudes and structural racism in health, education and local authority contexts.
During this fellowship, I will build on my PhD work to develop a better understanding of families of children with autism, learn more about their experiences, and contribute evidence which can be used to support them in the future. A key aim will be to extend knowledge in the academic community. To achieve this, I will revise my doctoral research for publication and easily extract data from chapters of the thesis; share findings with parents of children with autism and professionals who support them to improve their lives and practice.
The activities proposed in the fellowship will focus specifically on Black parents' outcomes because we know little about their perspectives and experiences. Typically, when researchers have asked families to take part in research, it is mothers that respond and take part in answering questions about themselves, their child, and their family and so research evidence is often focused on mothers. The wider research community will benefit from research on Black fathers. As it stands, autism research on family experiences lack male and ethnic representation, and this proposed research, the first on Black fathers of children with autism in the UK, will become a tool to build knowledge and commence a process that begins to bridge this research gap. The pilot study will examine and generate knowledge of Black fathers' experiences of autism: the interplay of identities - race, gender and disabilities - will give insight to how fathers understand, experience and respond to their child's health, care and educational needs. This new project will consult with fathers of children with autism to understand how they experience autism from a cultural and racial lens. The aim of this work is to recognise fathers of children with autism, collaborate with them to better understand their needs, and to share information to benefit others.
