MYTH: Higher Divorce Rate for families with autistic children
REALITY: FALSE
Autism Families: High Divorce Rate Is a Myth from WebMD
Parents of autistic children often hear that the divorce rate in families with autism is 80%, but a new study debunks that figure as a myth. ''There really weren't any significant differences in terms of family structure when you consider children with autism and those without," says study researcher Brian Freedman, PhD, clinical director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
''In fact what we found is that children with autism remained with both biological or adoptive parents 64% of the time, compared with children in families without autism, who remained [with both biological or adoptive parents] 65% of the time," Freedman tells WebMD. READ MORE
REALITY: FALSE
Autism Families: High Divorce Rate Is a Myth from WebMD
Parents of autistic children often hear that the divorce rate in families with autism is 80%, but a new study debunks that figure as a myth. ''There really weren't any significant differences in terms of family structure when you consider children with autism and those without," says study researcher Brian Freedman, PhD, clinical director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
''In fact what we found is that children with autism remained with both biological or adoptive parents 64% of the time, compared with children in families without autism, who remained [with both biological or adoptive parents] 65% of the time," Freedman tells WebMD. READ MORE
Divorce among parents of children with autism: dispelling urban legends
In this issue of Autism, we begin a different format for editorials. Rather than provide a summary of the manuscripts presented herein, we begin a series that we call “Myth Busters.” Our goal is to set the record straight on statistics and figures that somehow are perceived as common wisdom within the autism community, and yet have little basis in fact. In this issue, we address the often-quoted and generally accepted fact of the high prevalence of divorce among parents of children with autism.
Naseef and Freedman (2012) addressed this issue with sensitivity and clarity in the Autism Advocate...READ MORE
In this issue of Autism, we begin a different format for editorials. Rather than provide a summary of the manuscripts presented herein, we begin a series that we call “Myth Busters.” Our goal is to set the record straight on statistics and figures that somehow are perceived as common wisdom within the autism community, and yet have little basis in fact. In this issue, we address the often-quoted and generally accepted fact of the high prevalence of divorce among parents of children with autism.
Naseef and Freedman (2012) addressed this issue with sensitivity and clarity in the Autism Advocate...READ MORE
MYTH: Acceptance meands giving up
REALITY: "Acceptance means no longer setting ourselves and our children up for failure by grading their a-typical progress in relation to someone else’s typical development. It means no longer trying to eradicate the thing that is such a huge part of who they are and instead working to make it less disabling. That’s the heart of this really – accepting autism as a fundamental part of our kids and then working with them to leverage its gifts and mitigate its challenges." A Diary of A mom "What Neurodiversity isn't"
REALITY: "Acceptance means no longer setting ourselves and our children up for failure by grading their a-typical progress in relation to someone else’s typical development. It means no longer trying to eradicate the thing that is such a huge part of who they are and instead working to make it less disabling. That’s the heart of this really – accepting autism as a fundamental part of our kids and then working with them to leverage its gifts and mitigate its challenges." A Diary of A mom "What Neurodiversity isn't"