Exploring the Diagnosis Experiences of Individuals with Co-occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder and Visual Impairments
What's the study about?
The purpose of the study is to understand parents’ perspectives on the diagnosis process of co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and visual impairments (VI) in school-age children. We believe the information collected can help identify barriers to early detection of this co-occurring disability, highlight gaps in assessment and diagnosis practices, and suggest ways to improve early intervention services and supports.
Who can participate?
Parents of individuals age 3-22 years who have a dual diagnosis of autism and visual impairment who live in the USA and Puerto Rico Rico
What will participants be doing?
Complete an online survey
Why is this important?
The information collected can help identify barriers to early detection of this co-occurring disability, highlight gaps in assessment and diagnosis practices, and suggest ways to improve early intervention services and supports. Specifically, we want to explore whether intersecting identities, culture, communication modes, and the characteristics of parents and their children with ASD and VI influence the diagnosis process. One of our goals is to determine if these factors are linked to the timely identification of diagnoses and the services students receive. If we find gaps in services, we hope to identify factors that could reduce future disparities in access to early intervention and family educational supports or identify exemplary practices worth sharing with the field.