Training on home safety skills for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: A mixed method research

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are known to experience emotional hypo/hypersensitivity, aside from exhibiting restricted and repetitive behaviors. These behaviors prevent them from perceiving and simultaneously responding to environmental stimuli, meaning that they may not notice potential hazards. Children with ASD are in the risk group for home accidents, being unaware of the hazards, and are therefore open to environmental risks. The present study determines the training requirements of children and parents of children with ASD on home safety skills, and suggests the preparation of a family training program in accordance with their requirements. The present study was designed as an experimental mixed method research, and was conducted in three stages. The first two stages focused on determining the requirements of families related to home safety skills; while the final stage involved the preparation of a training program addressing the individual requirements of families. The study was conducted on a total of 16 parents, eight of which were assigned to the control group and eight assigned to the experimental group. The quantitative data collected during the interventional stage of the study was analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U-test and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A significant difference was identified between the pre-test and post-test scores of parents in the experimental group. During the focused group interviews with the parents after the intervention, the parents stated that the in-home skills education had been entertaining, that they gained the ability to prepare education programs related to home safety skills for their children, that they had become advocates regarding the rights of their children, and that they gained an awareness that home safety skills are important for the lives of both themselves and their children.