Autistic parents: Please participate in my research study into your experience of parenting (pre-approved post)

Hi everyone. 

(Dear Moderator, this post has been pre-approved by Ian Dale and the forum manager.) 

Please consider participating in my research study. I am an autistic parent researching what the parenting experience is like for autistic adults who live in the UK.

More information can be found on the attached image.

Thank you.

Image Alt Text:

Image is of a research study recruitment advertisement.  It has text and some smaller images on a blue and white banded background.  Top left: Gold glitter sillouette of 2 adults and a child holding hands.  Top right: Manchester Metropolitan University logo. Bottom right:  Wordcloud of autism-related word in the shape of a parent and child.  Image text: PARTICIPANTS NEEDED!  There are more than a million research studies about autistic children.  And less than 15 about the experiences of autistic parents. Help me change that!  Are you a parent or carer of a child under 18? Are you diagnosed (or self-diagnosed) with ASD or Asperger’s syndrome or on the diagnostic pathway for autism?  Do you want to help improve understanding of the experiences of parents like you?  If so, you are invited to take part in our research to explore in depth how autistic adults experience the critical life event of parenting and to investigate ways to support them in this role and improve their quality of life and well-being.  I would ask you to complete a 30-minute questionnaire at your leisure, followed up by a 30-60-minute remote interview conversation in a format and at a time that suits you. Participants will be given a summary of my findings at the close of the study. For more information and to find out how to take part, please contact Simone Smit at simone.smit@stu.mmu.ac.uk no later than 31 August 2021.

Parents
  • I would be happy to do the questionnaire, but the remote interview is off-putting. Like many autistics that sort of thing is difficult for me and I would only do remote conversations with people I know well or if I had little or no choice.

  • Hi Martin. 

    I absolutely understand that some of us are not comfortable with video calls or even regular calls.  I myself have difficulties with that.   I apologise if I did not make it clear in the flyer, but the interview format is totally up to you.  Because I am autistic too, I am very invested in making sure that participants are at ease with our methods.

    So, for example, we could do the interview via messaging app, or only use the  chat function of zoom with video and microphone turned off.  Or even conduct it entirely via email exchange.  I am open to suggestions on this.  The interview format is also flexible to be as accessible as possible to accomodate all communication needs.

    You will receive all the interview questions in advance (there are 11), and are encouraged to supplement your answers with images/photos/memes if you want to.  I can often find it difficult to express my thoughts/feelings verbally, so this option can help with that.  There are no right or wrong answers.  And you can also refuse to answer a question if you want to.

    Here is a link to the Participant Information Sheet, that gives all the key information abou the study and how it will work: https://mmu.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3KPOiYKkjc1NOGF

    Along with the official recruitment information, I will also be sending a video message to introduce myself and the study.  And I am more than happy to have 1 or more introductory chats (in any format) before the actual interview takes place.

    The online questionnaire part of the study is 18 questions, most of which are demographic questions like age, gender, and so on.

    Happy to answer any more questions you may have.

    Sim

  • Thanks, I just noticed the 'under 18' clause, which puts me out of the running.

Reply Children