Autism From a Religious Perspective: A Study of Parental Beliefs in South Asian Muslim Immigrant Families

TLDR

Three multilingual South Asian Muslim immigrant families were interviewed over 17 months of ethnographic fieldwork to explore their beliefs about autism. Families understood raising a child with autism in religious terms, sought to integrate them into normal social, linguistic, and religious practices, contested expert views, and highlighted implications for multicultural teacher education and collaboration.

Abstract

Three multilingual immigrant South Asian Muslim families who have children with autism were interviewed to ascertain their beliefs about autism. Data were drawn from interviews and conversations recorded during 17 months of ethnographic fieldwork in homes and community. Results indicate that families understood the task of raising a child with autism in religious terms. In keeping with the precepts of Islam, their overarching goal was to raise their children as normally as possible, incorporating them into ordinary social, linguistic, and religious practices at home and in the community. Parents strongly contested experts’ understandings of autism, which they believed undermined rather than promoted their children’s development. Findings have implications for multicultural teacher education and enhancing home, community, and school collaboration.