Examining contextual, experiential and psychological factors that influence (determine and threaten) the wellbeing of Black and minority ethnic groups
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Centre for Education Studies
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
Publications
Gemegah E
(2020)
Public attitudes to people with ASD: contact, knowledge and ethnicity
in Advances in Autism
Tromans S
(2020)
Autism identification across ethnic groups: a narrative review
in Advances in Autism
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000711/1 | 30/09/2017 | 29/09/2028 | |||
| 1912098 | Studentship | ES/P000711/1 | 01/10/2017 | 29/09/2021 | Eli Ashong |
| Description | This research has found that because mothers are the primary caregivers of their child with autism, they require practical support and assistance to protect their psychological wellbeing, but respite from the Local Authorities are usually not granted because they do not meet the eligibility criteria. These systemic barriers affect mothers quality of life and psychological wellbeing. Fathers' different role in the household means that they are not as impacted by their child's disability. Parents, particularly mothers, experience double stigma because of their gender and close association with autism in their ethnic communities and racial stigma from the general public. Culture plays a significant role in parents understanding, awareness and experience of autism in their community groups in the UK. Parents in this study held religious beliefs that supported them and offered them a sense of belonging. However, parents felt that their religious organisations were not accommodating of their child's diagnosis due to lack of understanding, awareness, contact, education and knowledge about autism, which limited parents' attendance to religious services and events, and equally elevated feelings of isolation. Parents mentioned negative experiences from support services, professionals and health care workers after their child's autism diagnoses, emphasising on the lack of support available for parents at various structural levels - housing, education, local authorities and even within the health sector. For instance, most of the mothers mentioned having to pay for their child's ECH plan because their Local Authorities did not support their application. Parents were not aware that it was a legal requirement for Local Authorities to fulfil this duty. Because of their child's ASD diagnosis, parents, particularly single mothers, are economically disadvantaged due to their limited career options. Mothers faced marital problems that have led to divorce/separation and impacts their economic status. Despite the various challenges that parents experience at contextual and systemic levels, mothers displayed a high level of resilience. |
| Exploitation Route | The Department of Health should consider: - Increasing training on how to communicate the autism diagnosis sensitively, without a dominant focus on its limitations can help build rapport between parents and clinicians - Fund further research to examine the nature of structural racism present in health services and its impact on parents and children with ASD - Provide guidance for local authorities on how best to commission autism support services that support Black parents' ethnic, cultural and informational needs. Particular examples are the acquisition of EHC plans from the local authorities to avoid payments, a space to discuss culturally sensitive issues that impact parents understanding and experience of autism, in effect their child's development. - Establish a training course for parents after diagnosis that highlights the medical explanations for autism while acknowledging biological, environmental causes to alleviate self-stigma. Such training should also include cultural perspectives of autism/disability for parents to feel understood and included in the White space. For such training to be effective, it is important to 'employ personnel from the Black community - people who can actually relate' to the cultural experience of disability/autism |
| Sectors | Education Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | Recent public engagements with charities and autism organisations such as the National Autism Society, A2ndVoice and SEN parenting in London and Think Tank Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire disseminated findings on factors that influence Black and ethnic minority parents of children with autism. These public engagements provide examples of ways that professionals can provide culturally sensitive services to Black and ethnic minority groups. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |