Pichitra Sinsamersuk.. Just a person walking slower than the others, but can reach the intended destination : a story of a person overcoming autism. Master's Degree(Social Sciences and Health). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2017.
Just a person walking slower than the others, but can reach the intended destination : a story of a person overcoming autism
Abstract:
This was a study based on real life experiences of a person living with autism and Bone Metabolic Disorder and overcoming the challenges that come with such disabilities. The study was a qualitative research that retrospectively analyzed a life living with disabilities in terms of meaning, experiences, resilience and the coping strategies. The author considered all the aspects above after she was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome (a syndrome found in autism spectrum) and when she was diagnosed with Bone Metabolic Disorder. The objectives of the study were: to reflect on the experiences of living with autism, to analyze the meaning of the experiences and the source of the resilience, and describe the coping strategies she used to overcome the seemingly inhibiting challenges. Being a qualitative study, the researcher mined data from personal memoirs, and reflective in-depth interviews with parents, members of the family, and teachers. The researcher describes her past experiences and struggles under the social and cultural structure as a person with disability in stages that include: childhood, life in primary school, high school and university as an undergraduate student. From the study, it was observed that medical practitioners saw her as a person living with congenital physical abnormalities and autism with incurable and fatal conditions, her parents saw her as their child and they had to do their best to look after her, understood the conditions were incurable and they helped her as much as they could to improve her learning and physical development together with medical treatment received from physicians. The strategies that helped the author reach her potential included, parental beliefs and resolve to support and belief in the power of education in transform lives. The positive resilience methods that helped the author to deal with feelings and social stigma included staying positive, consulting with monks, searching for medical and academic information and making sure that the extended family members understood the authors conditions and cooperated in looking after her. The parents rearranged their priorities (the mother leaving her job and offer special care to ensure the authors development). However, the author experienced discrimination in the education system where everything was standardized for all students. She suffered from stigma, devaluation, teased, stared at and criticized by the society. More often the society blamed the family for her condition. The family and the author dealt with the above social stigma by portraying the authors potential, redefining her identity as a person with some limitations but not disability, and somehow living with it. Another strategy was also the acceptance of the fact that the social attitudes towards people with different physical and learning condition could not be changed. From the reflections and analysis of the present narrative, it is recommended that stigmatization and devaluation of disabled people in the society should be discouraged and families should be strengthened and empowered. Resilience by people with disabilities and parents could give them opportunities to succeed and make them positive and successful people in the society. The principles drawn from this present narrative study could be a guideline or inspiration for other people living with disabilities or family member(s) with disabilities. Relevant Authorities should sensitize the community to treat all people with dignity and know that disability is not inability.
Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center