SPOSTRZEGANE WSPARCIE SPOŁECZNE PRZEZ MATKI DZIECI W SPEKTRUM ZABURZEŃ AUTYSTYCZNYCH

Social support is a key resilience resource that positively affects the well-being of mothers of children with disabilities. This resource promotes positive adaptation of families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to the situation of raising a child with neurodevelopmental problems. The aim of the study was to analyse perceived social support by mothers of children with ASD receiving assistance from the Early Intervention Centre (EIC) in Warsaw. A diagnostic survey was conducted among 143 mothers of children with ASD using the Questionnaire for Mothers of Children with ASD. Mothers were mostly positive about the organisation of EIC’s assistance offerings. Mothers considered information support about the abilities and needs of a child with ASD to be particularly accessible. They felt a paucity of support relating to their needs as mothers. The EIC support system focuses mainly on children with ASD, and the mothers’ needs for social support relating to parental difficulties are not fully met.