COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences of Families in Which a Child/Youth Has Autism and Their Service Providers: Perspectives and Lessons Learned.
David B Nicholas, Rosslynn T Zulla, Jill Cielsielski and 2 others
PMID 38767817WHAT IT FOUND
Families and providers described navigating unclear essential service designations and rapid shifts to virtual care.
While some found virtual options flexible, providers struggled to engage children remotely. Parents reported increased stress and isolation, though some adapted by using online tools to maintain connections.
Key findings
01Ambiguity about whether autism services were 'essential' left families uncertain about access, forcing parents to become sole caregivers and leading to burnout.
02Service providers found virtual delivery difficult for engaging children, particularly those with sensory or behavioral needs, as physical proximity and modeling were restricted.
03Some families valued the flexibility of virtual communication, such as texting or emailing, which allowed for more tailored and accessible support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study did not include perspectives from school staff or residential care workers. The sample lacked first-person accounts from autistic children/youth. Participants were disproportionately from families with male autistic children. Data were collected from only one region in Canada, limiting generalizability. Data collection occurred relatively early in the pandemic, so longer-term impacts were not captured.
Declared interests
Not reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the mixed experiences with virtual care as evidence that telehealth is universally effective or ineffective for autism services. The study reports subjective experiences and highlights that success depended on factors like pre-existing rapport, child age, and technology access, rather than demonstrating clinical outcomes.