Accordingto recent statistics, there are 300,000 people on the autism spectrum in Malaysia (The Star, 2017). Autism is adisorder affecting cognitive and social skills that has severe implications onthe ability of the affected individual to lead a productive and independentlife. The alarming increase in the incidence of ASD in the last decade suggeststhat, while genetic factors are contributory, environmental triggers must alsoplay a decisive role. It can be concluded from this study that permissive styleof parenting is used more in preadolescent children and that female tend to usemore of this form of parenting.
Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD),face with a variety of behavioral problems under which different parents tend toperceive and react in different ways, of which one of the reason being stress.Currently, the needs of children with autism in Malaysia are not being met ineither the regular or special education systems. These children are frequentlyrefused admission in these special schools because officials protest that theyare not equipped to handle these children. The focus for the families isunderstandably on meeting the needs for daily sustenance. With low awarenesslevels and high levels of stigmatization, there is an increased need for publiceducation programmed.
Even within this framework, most of the work being donein autism focuses on the child and facilitates the improvement in the child. However,a little have done in the context focusing on a parent’s difficulties andstruggles and how a parent can cope with them most effectively. Educationprovision should be family centered, addressing and supporting the needs of thewhole family and not just the affected child, to ensure the family’s well-beingand quality of life in the face of a diagnosis of autism.
Parenting or childrearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional,social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood.Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child aside from the biologicalrelationship. Think of discipline as a way to guide and teach your child aboutpositive ways to react in society. Parentswho use a good parenting style are among those who use proactively leadershiptechniques.
