Children with autism spectrum disorder in the context of Arab countries and cultures

The field of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Arab world is new. The dearth of ASD research in the Arab world is well recognised. There were no data available in the field of ASD in the Arab context collectively. Therefore, ASD researchers should attempt to discover the state of ASD from the Arab perspective. This thesis has attempted to expand our knowledge of the field of ASD in the Arab context, in particular children with ASD and their families. In Chapter 1 an introduction on Arab countries was presented including geography, religion, language, culture, and information about typical family systems. Further, the current state of ASD in Arab countries and cultures was discussed in terms of its diagnosis, prevalence, services available for individuals with ASD, and Arab parents’ stress and needs profiles. Four empirical studies then followed (Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5). In the first study (Chapter 2) a systematic scoping review of social, educational, and psychological research on individuals with ASD and their family members in Arab countries and cultures was undertaken, highlighting many unexplored areas for research. Chapter 3 then presented an investigation of support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the United Kingdom (UK). Chapter 4 explored experiences of special educators from a special school on using a structured numeracy intervention with their pupils with ASD. The final study (Chapter 5) then carried out an initial evaluation of a structured numeracy intervention with children with ASD in Arab families living in the UK by training and supporting their parents to deliver the intervention at home. In Chapter 6 the findings from the four empirical studies were discussed, along with their implications for practice and future research. Overall this thesis has contributed new knowledge in relation to the field of ASD in the Arab context.