Understanding disability in healthcare: exploring the perceptions of parents of young people with autism spectrum disorder

Study findings highlight the relationship between how parents conceptualize ASD and their experiences accessing supportive services within current delivery structures. Implications for ASD service providers emphasize accommodating parents' unique and evolving values and priorities for healthcare and their relation to current service systems.Implications for RehabilitationParents conceptualizations of ASD both inform and are influenced by their experiences of accessing supportive services.This study highlights that parents' perspectives are fluid, context-dependent, and do not exclusively represent a single model or perspective of disability.To meet family needs, service providers including healthcare professionals must recognize parents' unique understandings of their child's ASD and appreciate how healthcare shapes these perceptions.