Discovering the Thematic Network of Communication Problems of Families Have Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Having a member with an autism spectrum disorder in the family creates a wide range of challenges and problems for the family members. The present study was conducted with the aim of discovering the thematic network of challenges and communication problems of families that have children with autism spectrum disorder. The research method was a qualitative approach with a thematic analysis method. The statistical population was families with autistic children (7 to 18 years old) in Isfahan city (240 families), eighteen families participated in the research. Participants were selected by purposeful sampling method. A depth semi-structured interview was used for collecting information. The results revealed 675 initial codes, 23 basic themes, five organizing themes, and one global theme. The extracted organizing themes were: social, personal, related to interaction with the child, lack of time and within the family issues. The global theme was also identified as the culture of avoiding autism. This research showed that pursuing an approach that encourages more acceptance of autism in the community can be the first step for improving the environment of destigmatization and reducing the culture of avoiding autistic individuals. In addition, cultural programs help raise awareness about autism and developmental disorders and also, could help to connect the families with early intervention resources