Exploring the lived experience of the Social ABCs parent-mediated intervention study

In light of the paucity of research investigating the impact on the family of parent-inclusive models of intervention for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this study explored the lived experience of families involved in the Social ABCs parent-mediated intervention for toddlers with ASD. Influenced by phenomenological inquiry, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven parents from six families. Parents were asked a range of broad open-ended questions, some of which were guided by the literature on family outcomes of early intervention for children with disabilities. Using thematic analysis, the findings revealed several themes that highlighted the impact of the Social ABCs intervention on the child, the parent, and the family as a system. Five themes are discussed as they provide insight into the lived experience of families involved in the intervention: impact on child, impact on parents, impact on the family system, feasibility of implementation, and reflections on the Social ABCs experience. These findings may be useful for informing practice, policy and program development related to early intervention for young children with ASD and their families.