OPTIMIZING PARENTAL ROLES FOR THE NATURAL DEVELOPMENT OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN: ESTABLISHING A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK FOR PARENTS

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly impacts children's social communication and behavior. The prevalence of ASD is increasing both in Vietnam and worldwide. Access to intervention services for autistic children in Vietnam remains limited. With proper training, parents can play a crucial role in supporting their children's development through home-based teaching and assistance. This research evaluates the impact of parent training programs on the academic and life skills progress of children with autism. The survey involved 178 parents and 247 teachers in Vietnam. Results indicate that children with trained parents made significant progress in social skills, communication, self-management, and learning compared to those with untrained parents. Trained parents also reported increased confidence in teaching their children at home and a better understanding of autism. Teachers observed more progress in the group of children with trained parents. However, many parents still lack access to systematic training. There is a need to develop comprehensive parent training programs to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to support their children's optimal development. The Parenting Partner Program is proposed to address this issue, providing parents with accurate information, teaching ABA-based techniques to support their children, and creating a network connecting parents with professionals.