Exploring parents’ experiences of working with educational psychologists to support their autistic daughters.

Understanding of autism has changed considerably in recent years, with growing awareness of the under-recognition of autism in girls. Research has sought to explain the under-diagnosis and experiences of autistic girls, and to provide recommendations for support. Research has also highlighted that parents are often dismissed by professionals; thus, it is crucial that the experiences of parents are represented in the literature. This study explored parents’ experiences of working with educational psychologists to support their autistic daughters. A single embedded case study design and semi-structured interviews were utilised to explore the experiences of five parents of autistic girls. Interviews were analysed using a deductive-inductive approach to thematic analysis. Nine themes and 22 subthemes were identified which highlighted what parents found to be helpful/unhelpful, and areas for development, when working with educational psychologists to support their daughters. The findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature and implications for professional practice are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]