Resources and Services for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Families in China

Although there is growing recognition of the global impact of autism spectrum disorders, much less is known about the condition outside of North America and Western Europe. In this study, we surveyed 49 parents who had a child with an autism spectrum disorder in China and about their experiences with diagnosis, intervention, and resource support. Our results showed that although parents first noticed signs of autism in the second year of life, diagnosis was delayed almost 1 year, with early intervention services delayed, on average, by an additional 6 months. Furthermore, we found that parents reported receiving the greatest amount of support from family and friends, with little to no governmental support.