Douglas College student research essay submitted as partial requirement for NURS 3315, Leadership: Partners in Health Promotion. Faculty sponsor to submit this research essay to DOOR: Jean Nicolson-Church.
Where people live, work, and grow, along with the conditions in their surroundings that shape the context of life, are referred to as the Social Determinants of Health (Robinson et al., 2022). Raising a family has many challenges, but those raising a family with a child or children on the autism spectrum face more complex problems in accessing quality healthcare. Difficulty accessing interventional healthcare services directly impacts the severity of an autistic child’s disability (Raouafi et al., 2018). Stressors such as poverty, financial challenges, inadequate education, and lack of access have a large impact on families raising autistic children (Menezes et al., 2024). Resiliency comes from adversity and grows into advocacy (Coelho et al., 2020; Smith-Young et al., 2022; Menezes et al., 2024). This paper explores how socioeconomic status is a barrier to accessing support and resources for families raising autistic children in British Columbia (B.C.) and the impact of resiliency toward advocacy. I will share some ideas that can perpetuate change while still promoting inclusion within this community to educate and foster change within all communities.
