Abstract:

Understanding parents’ lived experiences is essential for evaluating the quality and responsiveness of early intervention systems for children with autism spectrum disorder. This study presents qualitative findings from a nationwide survey exploring parents’ perspectives on early intervention services in Türkiye. Open-ended responses were collected from 283 parents and analyzed using inductive content analysis. The analysis identified six interrelated themes reflecting parents’ experiences across diagnostic, educational assessment, and intervention stages. These themes included systemic and institutional barriers, financial burden and inequity, concerns about professional competence, insufficient intervention intensity and individualization, emotional and psychological strain on families, and child-related challenges intensified by service limitations. Parents described early intervention as a fragmented and demanding process in which families were often required to navigate complex systems independently, rely on private services, and manage substantial emotional stress. Many parents emphasized that inadequate service quality and lack of coordination exacerbated child difficulties and hindered family well-being. The findings underscore that early intervention is not solely a child-focused endeavor but a family-wide process shaped by system responsiveness. These qualitative insights highlight the urgent need for family-centered practices, improved professional guidance, and integrated service pathways to better support children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

Acknowledgement:
This study was supported by the Scientific Research Coordination Unit of Anadolu University under project number YTS-2025-2742.

Keywords:

Autism spectrum disorder; early intervention; parent perspectives; service systems; Türkiye.