Life Skills for Autistic Children through Viewpoint of Carers
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To study categories of life skills for children with autism and importance of life skills through viewpoints of carers and helpers for children with autism.
Methods: Content was analysed based on literature reviews of life skills for children and focus group interviews in parents, carers, special educators, occupational therapist, doctors, nurses and psychologist who have involved in developing life skills for children with autism (N=270).
Results: Life skill contents for children with autism have been categorized in relation to Pyramidal Model of National Unified Life Skills Model (NULM) and to percentage of frequency for repetitive contents from the participants, i.e. basic life skills (36%), psychosocial skills (32%), essential components of life skills (10%), basic knowledge of life skills (8%), performance of independent living (7.2%), and environmental modification (6.8%). The Pyramidal Model was further on modified to the Tree Model in order to initiate an understanding of life skills development in carers of children with autism.
Conclusion: Carers and helpers reflect the importance of developing life skills for children with autism especially focusing on basic life skills. Bull Chiang Mai Assoc Med Sci 2009; 42: 112-119.
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Personal views expressed by the contributors in their articles are not necessarily those of the Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University.