The Father's Role in the Development of Children with Autism

Background: The NINR/NIH funded intervention study “In-Home Training for Fathers of Children with Autism” uses a novel approach of training fathers of children with autism in techniques to assist their child's language and social development. This report provides additional important qualitative information and cumulative themes of fathers' commentaries about their roles and their participation in the 4-year on-going quantitative study.

Objectives: To describe how fathers of children with autism view their roles and whether the father training intervention changes how they view their role.

Methods: Video taped interviews of the fathers participating in the In-Home Training for Fathers of Children with Autism are conducted in the home setting. Questions developed for the study guide the interview and allow the father to express his thoughts and feelings about his role, child, family and other issues related to autism. The interviews are transcribed and reviewed for common themes and significant statements.

Results: Themes discovered thus far (N=12) indicate that the fathers experience many of the same feelings that fathers of normally developing children have and that the in-home training project has a positive influence on their father role which may in turn affect the family as a whole.

Conclusions: As more interviews are collected, existing themes are reinforced and some new ones are discovered. Overall fathers of children with autism appreciate the influence that the in-home training program has in bringing them back into the nucleus of the family. Sponsor: NINR/NIH