Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Chet f. Lesniak

Abstract

Research found on the experience of parenting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) focused on the experiences of mothers, with much of the research about fathering centering around the experiences of White fathers, mostly heterosexual, with some attention to the experiences of gay White fathers. This study filled the gap by exploring the experiences of African American (AA) gay fathers raising a child diagnosed with ASD. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences and understand how these fathers access resources for their child and the barriers they deal with. Bowen’s family system theory guided this research study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 AA gay fathers of children with ASD and processed via thematic analysis. Results of coding and thematic analysis identified barriers AA gay fathers raising a child with autism experience when attempting to access different resources, the impacted on their social and professional lives, and how they were unaware of services available to them. Four themes emerged from the fathers’ description of their lived experiences: Parent needs for Support, Parent Exposure, Personal Impact, and Barriers to Support. The fathers indicated how their child school was the primary resource and they also identified the unmet needs their children currently had that could be addressed with additional supports and services. The findings in this study can used for positive social change by providing insight on policies, procedures, legislation, and strategies for accessing resources for AA gay fathers raising a child with autism.

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