"Vi var fullständigt missförstådda, kritiserade och skuldbelagda" - en studie kring konsekvenserna för föräldrar till barn inom autismspektrumtillstånd som har eller har haft en problematisk skolfrånvaro

Sammanfattning: The past decade, the number of children who have had a worrying school absence seems to increase according to several authorities in Sweden. The aim of this study was to explore the consequences for parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who also have or had to have a problematic school absence this past year. The analyze focused on the consequences regarding social relationships, economy/working life, and health. I also examined the parents' views on the cause of the child's school problems. I conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with five parents from five different families. The analysis was then done using Bronfenbrenner's theories of developmental ecology. The results of the study showed that the parents are in a vulnerable situation as a result of the child's school absence. Their social relations had suffered and their own economy was adversely affected. Parents' health was also negatively affected as a result of the situation with the child's school problems. The study also emerged that the parents feel that knowledge and skills about autism are lacking in several relevant contexts such as within the school and social services and that this fact is a contributing reason for the child having developed school-related problems.