Parents with Autism

Roditeljstvo osoba s invaliditetom tema je kojom se stručnjaci bave već desetljećima. Međutim, istraživanja su se većinom fokusirala na populaciju osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama ili motoričkim poremećajima, dok postoji ograničen broj istraživanja na temu roditeljstva osoba s autizmom. U prošlosti se smatralo kako osobe s autizmom, zbog svojih karakteristika, nisu u mogućnosti ostvariti intimne odnose i podizati obitelj. Ipak, smatra se da je velik broj visokofunkcionalnih osoba s autizmom uspješno u različitim aspektima života, pa tako i u ostvarivanju bliskih odnosa s drugima. Budući da je velik broj odraslih osoba s autizmom pogrešno dijagnosticiran ili nedijagnosticiran, točan broj osoba koje imaju svoje obitelji ostaje nepoznanica. Obzirom na različite teškoće i izazove s kojima se susreću osobe s autizmom, poput senzornih, komunikacijskih i socijalnih teškoća, pretpostavlja se kako bi one mogle biti još izraženije kada se nađu u ulozi roditelja, koja je sama po sebi veoma zahtjevna. Cilj ovog rada je, na temelju pregleda dostupne literature, dati uvid u doživljena iskustva i izazove roditeljstva osoba autizmom te kako se same osobe s autizmom doživljavaju kao roditelji. Isto tako, rad se osvrnuo i na iskustva trudnoće i poroda za majke s autizmom. Također je važno usmjeriti se na formalnu i neformalnu podršku koju roditelji s autizmom dobivaju i koliko im olakšava nošenje s ulogom roditelja.Parenting for people with disabilities has been a topic that experts have been working on for decades. However, research has mostly focused on the population of people with intellectual disabilities or motor disorders, while there is a limited number of studies on the topic of parenting of people with autism. In the past, it was thought that people with autism, due to their characteristics, were unable to have intimate relationships and raise a family. Nevertheless, it is believed that a large number of highly functional people with autism are successful in various aspects of life, and thus in achieving close relationships with others. Since large number of adults with autism are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, the exact number of people who have their own families remains unknown. Given the various difficulties and challenges faced by people with autism, such as sensory, communication and social difficulties, it is assumed that they could be even more pronounced when they find themselves in the role of a parent, which itself is very demanding. The aim of this paper is, based on a review of the available literature, to provide insight into the experiences and challenges of parenting of people with autism and how people with autism perceive themselves as parents. The paper also looked at pregnancy and childbirth experiences for mothers with autism. It is also important to focus on the formal and informal support that parents with autism receive and how much it makes it easier for them to cope with the role of parent