The Future of School Age Children with Autism in Jordan: An Exploration of Parents’ Future Visions and Confidences

Abstract

Understanding parents’ visions for their children is crucial for providing family-sensitive services. This study examined parents’ views on the importance and confidence of future outcomes for children with autism. Parents of 115 children aged between 9-20 years old rated 14 future outcomes extracted from an extensive literature review. Results revealed significant differences between parents’ ratings of importance (how important the outcome is) and confidence (how confident they are that the child will attain the outcome in the future). Parents’ confidence was lower than their perceived importance of the outcome. Outcomes related to safety, happiness, and acceptance from family and community were given higher ratings. Socioeconomic status, level of support, and communication style significantly influenced parents’ ratings. There is an urgent need for more family-focused services that address parents’ priorities and goals for their children with autism in Jordan.