Quality of life in families of children with autism

The thesis relates to the quality of life in families that take care of children with autism. The main goal of the thesis was to find out and describe the way of life by families that take care of children with autism and to emphasize the quality of lives by particular families. The constitutive goal was focused on a subjective opinion of parents about the possible support caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by the state and non-profit sector with an accent on health and social issue. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with the question of the definition of autism, its etiology, diagnostics and prevalence. It also concerns family community, quality of life and social services. The practical part of the thesis involves a research that uses a qualitative research strategy, asking questions method and narrative and half-structured conversation techniques. The research sample involves families that take care of children with autism under the age of 15. The family quality of life was assessed by using the SEIQoL questionnaire where the families determine their primary aims of life. The support instrument of the research was the Lifeline Method that belongs to the graphic projective techniques. The research part describes the life by families that take care of children with autism. There are mapped some social services and support that the child caring families use. The research part also mentions subjective quality of life evaluations of communication partners, their view of autism and facing up to the disease. The research finds out that all the families are convinced that they have a good quality of life despite all the troubles they meet by taking care of their children. Quality of life has a different meaning for every person, but if we should summarize, the parents would characterize it by the following definition: "Quality of life is the general life full of love, understanding, friendship and opportunities." They would not change their lives and they also accept autism as a gift that helps them to recognize the real sense of life. The thesis allows the public to take a look into the world of families that take care of children with autism. It can be also helpful for the particular families or children diagnosed with autism who have problem to accept the situation. At the same time the thesis can be also used as an information material about autism, health and social care possibilities provided by the state and non-profit organizations