Episode 26 Show Notes

Hey everyone, I’m Sophilia Lark-Woodbury and this is episode 26 of the S.O.S. podcast on

Monday May 14th 2018. Today is a special segment because we are going to dive into some

critical issues that fathers of children on the autism spectrum often encounter in their daily

parenting routines. It is well known that when it comes to talking about parenting a child on the

spectrum, much of the focus is centered on moms as the primary caregivers and recipients of

support services. But why is this exactly the case? Continue reading below to find out.

 So often, we hear about parenting a child with autism and the challenges that parents

face in getting the services and help they need to make their lives easier, but that focus

is typically on the mother of the child and not the father.

 Dads’ voices and presence in the literature and in society, as it relates to parenting a

child on the autism spectrum, are far less prevalent than those of mothers.

 There was a study conducted in 2015 by researchers at the University of Calgary in

Canada that examined the experiences of fathers who parent children on the autism

spectrum, and the researchers found that fathers’ parenting needs were distinct from

those of mothers, and they therefore required different supports.

 Specifically, the researchers noted that fathers’ needs were distinct in that they

interpreted, coped, experienced, and participated differently in parenting their child

when compared to mothers.

 Many factors have contributed to fathers being the lesser heard and lesser supported

parents, including:
 o Lack of self-reported needs when compared to mothers.

o Vast majority of research participants on early parental concerns and autism

diagnosis were mothers.

o Mothers typically completed interview and questionnaires while fathers only

completed questionnaires.

o Fathers of children with ASD seem to be less interested or inclined to participate

in research.

o Fathers are less available and harder to researchers to connect with.

o Households continue to identify the mother as the primary caregiver.

o Mothers in the households are more likely than fathers to completed parenting

surveys

o Researchers continuing to be less attentive to the experiences of fathers,

probably because fathers are harder to reach and less inclined to participate.

o Preference for mother-focused research due to mothers’ high level of

involvement and the stress related to their involvement.

o Therefore, more research is focused on understanding and supporting mothers

in order to relieve stress.

 However, just because dads appear less available or less inclined to provide feedback

doesn’t mean that they have less needs or that they cope better.

 In fact, fathers seem to have just as many needs as moms, but their needs are different.
  When compared to mothers, fathers tend to rate the need for in-home support more

highly, and they speak with less confidence than mothers about managing challenging

child behaviors.

 Also, when asked about their experience of parenting a child on the spectrum, dads’

responses seem to be more negative than mothers.

 Research also suggests that fathers are less likely to seek and receive support than

mothers.

So, how do we fix this.

1. We let dads know we are listening and that we know about their experiences (i.e., more

inclined to request in-home support, more conscious about stigma, less likely to seek

and receive support, but despite reports that they are less confident in managing

challenging behaviors, we know they have demonstrated confidence in confronting

these challenges head on).

2. Point out strengths: Attention to detail regarding their child’s capabilities and

contributions. High-level awareness and a sense of gratitude for what their child brings

to the table and a deep appreciation for the struggles and successes in fathering overall.

3. Break the cycle of being less attentive to dads’ voices and experiences by more fully

incorporating their voices and perspectives into the research, practices, and policies

related to parenting a child on the spectrum. This should include focus on a socio-

economically diverse population of fathers raising children on the autism spectrum.

4. Design personalized interventions/supports to help dads thrive as parents of children on

the spectrum. These supports might include helping them to use their sophisticated
 awareness and sense of gratitude to develop a portfolio of alternative, healthier

narratives about their parenting experience.

5. Help dads to create their own healing environments using resilience-oriented practices

such as support groups based on shared interests that help them to cope. Dads can use

sports, music, art, spirituality, etc. to help them come to terms with their situation and

to crystalize a deeper appreciation of their work and bond with their child.

Alright. So, I hope that you have a clearer understanding of how fathers manage parenting a

child on the spectrum, what their unique needs are, and how we as mothers can support them

in their autism parenting journey.

 Next week, we’ll dive into ten self-care tips for caregivers from the experts. Hope you’ll

come back and join me as we not only learn some cool tips, but we also get to engage in

a little self-care practice during the show.

 I will see you in a little bit. Take care.

Research cited during this show:

Cheuk S, Lashewicz B. How are they doing? Listening as fathers of children with autism

spectrum disorder compare themselves to fathers of children who are typically

developing. Autism. 2016;20(3):1-10. doi: 10.1177/1362361315584464