Autism Awareness and Treatment Options: A Study on How Culture and System Shape the Future of Children with Special Needs in China

  • Huyang Xu Coventry University
Keywords: Autism awareness, special education, stigma, mental health, health policy, China

Abstract

With the increase in the number of autistic children diagnosed in China, it is becoming a salient problem that teachers, parents, and other caretakers still lack basic knowledge of this condition. This paper recognizes the need for children with special needs to integrate more completely into mainstream society, aims to raise general awareness, and presents effective platforms via which for children with autism can acquire mainstreaming skills. It also discusses the responsibility shared among policymakers, the government and the education system to support these children and their families. Together, this paper is a call to action with profound implications across a broad range of society, including the psychological, medical, economic, and cultural factors, as well as the microcosm of the nuclear family.

References

[1] Horlin, C., Falkmer M., Parsons R., Albrecht M., Falkmer T. (2014). The Cost of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Plos ONE, 9(9), e106552. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106552

[2] Sun, X., Allison, C., Matthews, F., Sharp, S., Auyeung, B., Baron-Cohen, S., & Brayne, C. (2013). Prevalence of autism in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Molecular Autism, 4(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-4-7

[3] National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals | CDC. Cdc.gov. (2020). Retrieved 3 November 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/.

[4] Morales-Hidalgo, P., Roigé-Castellví, J., Hernández-Martínez, C., Voltas, N., & Canals, J. (2018). Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Spanish School-Age Children. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 48(9), 3176-3190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3581-2

[5] Steffenburg, H., Steffenburg, S., Gillberg, C., & Billstedt, E. (2018). Children with autism spectrum disorders and selective mutism. Neuropsychiatric Disease And Treatment, Volume 14, 1163-1169. https://doi.org/10.2147/ndt.s154966

[6] Chang, K. (2017). Applied Behavior Analysis in Autism Spectrum Disorders in China and Hong Kong. Acta Psychopathologica, 03(05). https://doi.org/10.4172/2469-6676.100124

[7] Wang, P. (2008). Effects of a Parent Training Program on the Interactive Skills of Parents of Children with Autism in China. Journal Of Policy And Practice In Intellectual Disabilities, 5(2), 96-104. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-1130.2008.00154.x

[8] Liu, Y., Li, J., Zheng, Q., Zaroff, C., Hall, B., Li, X., & Hao, Y.(2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of autism spectrum disorder in a stratified sampling of preschool teachers in China. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0845-2

[9] Wan, Y., Hu, Q., Li, T., Jiang, L., Du, Y., & Feng, L. et al.(2013). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children in China: A systematic review. Shanghai Arch Psychiatry, 25(2), 70-80. https://dx.doi.org/10.3969%2Fj.issn.1002-0829.2013.02.003

[10] Kim, Y., Leventhal, B., Koh, Y., Fombonne, E., Laska, E., & Lim, E. et al.(2011). Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Total Population Sample. American Journal Of Psychiatry, 168(9), 904-912. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10101532

[11] Huang, A., & Wheeler, J. (2007). Including Children with Autism in General Education in China. Childhood Education, 83(6), 356-360. https://doi.org/10.1080/00094056.2007.10522950

[12] Zhou, B., Xu, Q., Li, H., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Rogers, S., & Xu, X. (2018). Effects of Parent-Implemented Early Start Denver Model Intervention on Chinese Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial. Autism Research, 11(4), 654-66[6] https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1917

[13] Hobart, H. M. (2008). Autism and Family in the People’s Republic of China: Learning from Parents’ Perspectives. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 33(1–2), 37–4[7] https://doi.org/10.2511/rpsd.33.1-2.37

[14] Mohammadzaheri, F., Koegel, L., Rezaee, M., & Rafiee, S. (2014). A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparison Between Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and Structured Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Intervention for Children with Autism. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 44(11), 2769-277[7] https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2137-3

[15] Clark, E., & Zhou, Z. (2005). Autism in China: From acupuncture to applied behavior analysis. Psychology In The Schools, 42(3), 285-29[5] https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20079

[16] McCabe, H. (2007). Parent Advocacy in the Face of Adversity. Focus On Autism And Other Developmental Disabilities, 22(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576070220010501

[17] Rosebthal, R. (1963) On the social psychology of the psychological experiment: 1, 2 The experimenter’s hypothesis as unintended determinant of experimental results. American Scientist, 51(2), 268-28[3] Retrieved November 3, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27838693

[18] DiSalvo, C., & Oswald, D. (2002). Peer-Mediated Interventions to Increase the Social Interaction of Children With Autism. Focus On Autism And Other Developmental Disabilities, 17(4), 198-20[7] https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576020170040201

[19] Rogers, S. (2000). Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 30(5), 399-40[9] https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1005543321840

[20] Gay, V., Leijdekkers, P., Agcanas, J., Wong, F., & Wu, Q. (2013).CaptureMyEmotion: Helping Autistic Children Understand their Emotions Using Facial Expression Recognition and Mobile Technologies. Bled eConference.

[21] Brain Power - Affectiva. Affectiva. (2020). Retrieved 3 November 2020, from https://www.affectiva.com/success-story/brain-power/.

[22] Autism Emotion. App Store. (2020). Retrieved 3 November 2020, from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/autism-emotion/id550027186.

[23] Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide. (2020). Retrieved 3 November 2020, from https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com.

Published
2021-04-22
Section
Original Research Articles