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“Blamed Instead of Helped” – Uncovering How Parents of Autistic Children Experience Parental Blame

William Gomes
Published Nov 20, 2024

A Ground-Breaking Study Sheds Light on a Pervasive Problem and Provides Recommendations for Change

The “Autism and Parental Blame Project” is an important collaborative research initiative that investigated the experiences of parents of autistic children who have faced blame, criticism and judgement from professionals and society when seeking help and support for their child’s needs. The project was commissioned by NHS England (Midlands) and involved West Midlands ADASS, the University of Birmingham, and parents of autistic children.

The research is ground-breaking in its scope, involving a systematic literature review, survey of 685 parents, and two focus groups. The findings reveal the widespread and detrimental impact of parental blame across education, health and social care services. Parents describe their knowledge being dismissed, facing accusations of fabricating their child’s difficulties, and fearing their parenting is under scrutiny when they ask for help.