Transcript

ILONA ROTH:

This week, you'll be looking at how autism affects family life, as well as the options for education and the challenge that it may pose for an autistic child. You've already heard from a number of parents. And though their experience is vary, few, if any, would deny that having an autistic child can pose challenges for their families. Yet something that I find shines out from these accounts by parents is their positivity and resilience.

You'll learn about some of the sources of stress and how families tackle them at different life stages. Multiplex families, where there's more than one family member on the autism spectrum, often have their own special coping mechanisms. In countries like the UK, various sources of health and support are available to families. For instance, the National Autistic Society offers a programme and help line for parents. However, accessing these and similar services may be difficult for families, especially if there are language or cultural barriers.

The rest of this week deals with education. You will be reflecting on some of the difficulties that autistic children may face in school and learning about the statutory support for education available in the UK nations. Different options for schooling cover a range from mainstream to residential to education at home. You'll hear why Arabella decided to educate Iris Grace at home. But as with everything else concerning autism, no one solution is right for all.