Background There is a need for research on autism conducted with families from global majority groups, as this helps inform the development of culturally appropriate support. This qualitative study explored the experiences of Sylheti families, originally from northeastern Bangladesh and living in London, who have an autistic family member. Aim To identify how Sylheti families experience living with an adult autistic family member. Method Sixteen interviews were conducted with eight members of four families – four parents and four siblings – to elicit detailed accounts of their experiences. Data were analysed thematically. Findings Six overarching themes were identified about the difficulties of accepting autism, the central role of family culture, how having an autistic brother or sister affected siblings, families’ experiences of different forms of adversity and emotions, and the challenges of navigating support systems outside the family. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of time and cultural awareness in therapeutic relationships with families of autistic people from the Sylheti community.
Khan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.