Factors Influencing Relocation for Military Families with Children with ASD

Background:  

Military families are an underrepresented group in the ASD literature, despite the number of military dependents with a diagnosis of ASD reaching approximately 23,500 (Tricare, 2011).  There has been little peer-reviewed research to date on military families with children with special needs or children with ASD; however, previous research has indicated the presence of need within this population.  A survey by Ferrell and colleagues (2014) found that military spouses with a child with special needs perceived less informal and formal support than other military spouses.  Davis and Finke (in review) interviewed 15 military spouses with children with ASD about their therapeutic experiences.  Military spouses reported challenges with relocation, separation, Tricare, and military programs that resulted in negative impacts on their child’s autism related services.  In order to inform clinical practice for professions, provide evidence for policy, and improve services and outcomes for military families, the experiences and needs of a larger sample of military families with children with ASD should be examined.  Military families have specific characteristics that may impact their experiences with services related to autism and; therefore, may have unique service needs.  The purpose of the current study was to describe the therapeutic experiences of military families with a child with ASD to determine needs of this population in a larger sample.

Objectives:

The main objectives of this investigation were to determine what factors influence the military spouses’ perception of services at different installations, effects of relocation on the child with ASD and family, and factors influencing relocation satisfaction.

Methods:  

In order to determine the experiences of a larger sample of military families with children with ASD, a self-administered online survey design was chosen.  Surveys allow researchers to collect self-reported data on personal experiences and generalize findings from a small population to a larger one in a time and cost efficient manner (Rea & Parker, 2005).  An online mode was chosen because online surveys extend the “reach” of respondents who may live in a number of geographic regions, are cost effective, contain no interviewer bias or data entry error, and allow for easy follow-up and quick data collection (Rea & Parker, 2005; van Selm & Jankowski, 2006). The questions and response choices in this survey were generated from a review of the literature on families of children with ASD and/or other disabilities (e.g., Renty & Roeyers, 2006; Dunst, Jenkins, & Trivette, 1984) and military families (e.g., Huebner et al., 2010; Blue Star Families, 2013).

Results:  

Approximately 200 military spouses with children with ASD completed the online survey.  Data analysis is currently on-going, but preliminary results suggest military families with a child with ASD experience challenges related to frequent relocation including provision of therapeutic services, child and family adjustment, and access to supports.

Conclusions:  

Data analysis is currently on-going, but conclusions may impact clinical service providers, military programming and providers, and laws and policies.