Autism and Social Work Intervention

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My thanks go out to all who have helped me complete this study and with whom this project may have not been possible. In particular, my gratitude goes out to friends, facilitator and family for extensive and helpful comments on early drafts. I am also deeply indebted to the authors who have shared my interest and preceded me. Their works provided me with a host of information to learn from and build upon, also served as examples to emulate.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with the university.

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ABSTRACT

This research study is an attempt to study the social work interventions that are that have been made for children Autism. The term “autism” encompasses a complex developmental disorder that involves delays or deficits in a number of areas including social skills and language, as well as emotional, cognitive, motor, and sensory issues. This research study has adopted a qualitative research study and relevant research studies on Autism have been incorporated in the study. The results of the interviews should that autism in children can be cured by exposing them to social skills interventions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

ABSTRACTiv

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION6

1.1. Introduction6

1.3. Aims and Objectives8

1.4. Rationale of the Study9

1.5. Layout of the Dissertation9

CHAPTER 02: BACKGROUND11

2.1. Characteristics of Autism12

2.2. Alternative Conceptualizations of Autism: Impaired Theory of Mind16

2.3. Prevalence and Cause of Autism19

2.4. Problems faced by Children19

2.5. Research Questions20

CHAPTER 03: METHODOLOGY21

3.1. Research design21

3.2. Qualitative research method21

3.3. Interview23

3.4. Research Paradigm23

3.5. Rationale for employing a Qualitative Study24

3.6. Research Method and Design Appropriateness24

3.8. Data Analysis26

3.9. Reliability27

3.10. Validity27

CHAPTER 04: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS30

4.1. Interview Responses30

4.2. Discussion31

4.3. Limitation of the Study33

CHAPTER 05: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS34

5.1. Causes of the Effects of Social Stories35

5.2. Recommendations37

REFERENCES38

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION

1.1. Introduction

The term “autism” encompasses a complex developmental disorder that involves delays or deficits in a number of areas including social skills and language, as well as emotional, cognitive, motor, and sensory issues (Wright, 2009, 279).

These children are characterized by a lack of reciprocity, play and imagination, and ongoing social isolation as well as by the presence of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behavioural patterns, interests and activities, which comprise the social and symbolic aspects of play (Wearmouth, Glynn, Richmond, Berryman, 2004, 648). From a parent's perspective, this behavior profile painfully and deeply affects the entire course of childhood, making it hard to connect with their children, to understand their perspectives or to know how to make things easier and better for their children and their families as a whole. They walk a fine line between trying to bring their children into a more interactive, social, play-filled world, while recognizing at the same time that for their children, the rules of a “typical” childhood do not apply. Autism is not a curable disease but a disorder that ...