ABSTRACT
AimsChildren with ASD are known to find alterations within their routines particularly distressing.[1 2 3] Children with Special Educational Needs (SEND) may be especially vulnerable to the negative effects of abrupt changes and prolonged periods of isolation.[4]Aim: To identify the reasons carers of children with ASD accessed our service during the covid-19 pandemic and glean how best to serve their needs should there be further lock-downs.Methods• We identified clients that contacted the Autism Service between March and November 2020 (N=26)• A consent protocol, telephone interview template and risk management protocol was developed and administered by a trained interviewer.• Up to 3 attempts were made to reach the service user• Clients were informed that ‘There will be no direct risks or negative impact on your child, or on the service that you will receive from us, now or in the future if you choose not to participate or if you give us negative feedback.’• The Interviewer collected information about the reason for making contact, whether it was covid specific, how helpful the response was and suggestions for future lockdowns.• Qualitative methodology was used to collate and analyze the data.Results• Of 26 clients identified, 2were siblings. Telephone interviews were conducted with 16/25 (64%) parents/carers.• 11/16 (69%) attributed the reason for making contact to Covid-19 impact on their child or services they hoped to receive. These were as follows: Concern about language regression and therapy provision, deterioration in behaviour, sleep problems, increasing anxiety, need for respite and enquiry about post diagnosis support.• 50% (8/16) felt the response received was helpful for the reason they made contact. (Contact was made for some needs that would not be dealt with by the Paediatric service.)• Respondents made suggestions about how we could improve: communication, response time to queries and overall support e.g. access to on line resources, sleep course and virtual support groups whilst also acknowledging that some suggestions were unrealistic in the face of a killer pandemic. What was most valued was someone to talk to/listen.ConclusionParents of children with SEND reported larger increases in stress and anxiety than their counterpart’s children during the COVID-19 lockdown.[2] In our busy service, a very small proportion of parents made contact for help. The reason for contact was anxiety in 3/16 (19%).Respondents’ suggestions have since been addressed through offer of virtual workshops and a National Autistic Society Family support Worker to address post diagnosis queries releasing clinicians time for where their expertise is most required.ReferencesThe Lancet Psychiatry. [Online] 7 (6), 481–483.Eshraghi, A. A. et al. (2020) COVID-19: Overcoming the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. [Online] [ https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04577-2 Asbury, K. et al. (2020) How is COVID-19 Affecting the Mental Health of Children with SEND and Their Families?Research in Developmental Disabilities. [Online] 108103822. Alhuzimi, T. (2021)Stress and emotional wellbeing of parents...CMAJ. [Online] 192 (21), E587–E587.Smile, S. C. (2020) Supporting children with ASD in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic