Rethinking autism: parental narratives on diagnosis, stigma and neurodiversity

Purpose This study aimed to examine the lived experiences of parents raising autistic children, focusing on diagnostic challenges, social stigma and the tension between medical and social disability models. Design/methodology/approach Through semi-structured interviews with 40 parents from specialized support centers, the authors explore how early recognition difficulties, masking behaviors and gendered experiences shape caregiving practices. Findings Findings reveal that parents experience significant emotional distress during diagnosis, compounded by societal judgment and pressure to conform. Research limitations/implications Despite these challenges, the parents’ words emphasize emerging strengths and a call to reconceptualize autism within a neurodiversity framework. This study demonstrates that integrating clinical indicators with familial experiences is essential for refining diagnostic protocols and support systems. Implications for clinical practice, policy reform and research underscore the need for inclusive approaches that view autistic traits as natural variations rather than deficits, urging revisions in practice, policy and community support. Social implications Beyond documenting parental difficulties, the study contributes a culturally situated interpretation of how diagnostic uncertainty, stigma, caregiving demands and neurodiversity-oriented meaning-making interact within a Palestinian service context. The findings extend existing literature by showing how these processes are experienced together rather than as isolated challenges. Originality/value This study offers an original qualitative exploration of Palestinian parents’ lived experiences of raising autistic children, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to examine diagnostic challenges, stigma, masking, gendered caregiving and neurodiversity. Unlike studies grounded primarily in clinical perspectives, it centers parental narratives to illuminate how sociocultural factors shape autism experiences in a conflict-affected setting. By integrating lived experiences with contemporary neurodiversity perspectives, the study advances understanding of autism beyond deficit-based models and provides practical implications for improving diagnostic pathways, family-centered support, professional practice and inclusive policies that promote acceptance and well-being.