Parental Expectations Regarding Postschool Social Attainments of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Singapore

This study sought to understand the parental expectations of social attainments in the postschool years. The parents of 20 adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) attending special schools were interviewed. Most expected their children would be working in sheltered workshops or unemployed. All parents indicated that their children would live with them until they were unable to provide appropriate care, and nearly half expressed wishes for relatives to care for them thereafter. None expected any independent access to the community. Analysis of the interviews suggested that the adolescents' learning and behavior, parental concerns, availability of formal resources, and societal factors influenced parents' expectations. Implications for working with Asian populations and for service delivery in Singapore are discussed.