Chapter 8: Special Education of Students With Autism: Involving Families

Children with autism face numerous challenges that cause disruptions to their daily lives. These disruptions extend to their families and how they interact with the school and society. Fortunately, many children with autism have access to high quality services, especially in school settings. Additionally, some of these children with autism receive services in their homes and in community-based settings as well. These services have proven successful when implemented with integrity; however, this success does not always generalize to family members and caretakers. It is important to increase family involvement to improve treatment outcomes and the lives of children with autism and their families. This chapter outlines the challenges faced by children with autism and their families, with a focus on improving family involvement across school, home, and community settings.