Autism disorder or difference? : a local study on the perceptions of professionals working in the autism field

Abstract

This study explores the participants’ perspectives of autism as disorder or difference, and the perceived role of the counsellor in the transcultural encounter with the autistic client. Autism, in this study, is considered to be a relevant area to the transcultural counselling field. A qualitative design was employed and semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight professionals who have experience of working with autistic clients. Questions revolved around medical classifications and diagnosis, the parents’ experience of having a child with autism, intervention/therapy, assumptions, and the neurodiversity paradigm. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to analyze the data. The following are the main findings in this study. Parents of the autistic child experience a mourning phase which if dealt with and overcome may lead to a sense of inner growth. Diagnosis was depicted as somewhat necessary, and yet as a device which leads to categorization from labelling, and to misconceptions. It has been suggested that the expectations of society and the inclusive system may be too inflexible and extreme, putting the autistic individual under pressure to conform or change. The moral character of the counsellor has been postured as central in this transcultural encounter. Counselling the autistic individual has been portrayed in terms of a form of coaching or mentoring, rather than following the traditional arrangement. The role of the counsellor as advocate for the client, and as a coach of client self-advocacy, has emerged as a fundamental aspect in this particular encounter.