Case studies of five Filipino autistic children

• Main Author: Karamihan, Bernadette R.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1992
• Subjects: Autism > Case studies; Parent and child; Children; Filipino; Applied Behavior Analysis; Child Psychology; Counseling; Developmental Psychology; Disability and Equity in Education; Disability Studies; Special Education and Teaching
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1430
• Institution: De La Salle University

This research deals with the behavioral characteristics of autism among Filipino children, the difficulties being encountered by parents of autistic children and their coping mechanisms and the intervention strategies applied by teachers, psychologists and therapists. The participants were five autistic males with ages ranging from five to ten years. They are enrolled at the Foundation for Children's Educational Integration, Inc. (FCEII: Teacher-Mom), a special school located in Makati. To undertake the case studies, the researcher made class observations, individual sessions, interviews with teachers, parents and caregivers, had home visits and participated in school activities. Likewise, the personal records of the children that include family data, developmental assessment, psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations, play and speech therapy reports, progress reports, class diaries and Individualized Education Programs were utilized. The instrument used was the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). The study is descriptive in nature using a case study approach. Relevant non-quantitative data were carefully and systematically gathered and analyzed in qualitative terms. The personal history, results of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, difficulties of parents and their coping mechanism as well as intervention/therapeutic strategies were presented in each case. Based on the outcome of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale scored by the researcher and the teacher in charge, the common areas of dysfunctions are Relating to People, Emotional Response and Verbal Communication. Among the difficulties being encountered by parents are behavior management at home, need for caregivers, spending quality time while they need to work, adjusting schedule of family activities, relationship between the special child and siblings, financial support and anticipation of the child's future. They have been coping through husband and wife collaboration making provisions for educational, therapy and evaluation needs for furthe