This study investigated how parents of people with autistic disorder were stigmatized by
association with their disabled children and challenged the stigmatization, while caring for their
children. This study employed the individual interviews involving 10 parents of people with
autistic disorder who were members of self-help groups, and used Giorgi’s phenomenological
method for analyzing the data.
According to the analysis, parents with disabled children were belittled as if they were
disabled people, and blamed for not disciplining their children appropriately in public places.
Also, they were expected to play roles like “problem solvers” in supporting their children,
being regarded as “deviants” among social relations in families, schools, and welfare agencies.
Nevertheless, they challenged the prejudice that they should be blamed for disabilities of
their children, by way of advocating ‘normality’ of their children and their own, and acquiring
positive new self-identity. They blurred the lines between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ about autism
in their disability discourse. In addition, they gained the identity of competent practitioners
in the disability field, enjoying their ‘normalized’ lives as ordinary citizens.
This study suggested some mass education which is targeted for raising consciousness of
anti-discrimination, kinds of guidelines and measures for promoting the anti-discriminatory
practice of education and socal work professionals, and governmental efforts for developing
quality service system for people with autistic disorder and supporting parental empowerment
as disability professionals.