“Does Change Last?”: Evaluating the Strengths-Based Intervention for Families Raising Children with Autism

Abstract

The study evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention for families raising children with autism aimed to improve the family’s quality of life, strengthen its capacity, and expand rights and opportunities. The experimental intervention was implemented at the Educational and Rehabilitation Center for Children with Autism “Trust” (Lviv, Ukraine). It had one experimental group (30 people) and two control groups (60 people). The effectiveness and duration of the intervention effects were assessed using a before/after study design with the same questionnaire. Findings from the survey evidence the effectiveness of the intervention, in particular, for expanding the family’s capabilities, its capacity, improving relationships in family subsystems, increasing parental competence, and improving well-being. Limitations of the intervention are discussed.