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https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/16134
Title: | Befrienders to persons in the autistic spectrum in Greece: what support do they offer and what challenges they face? | Contributor(s): | Mavropoulou, Sofia (author); Avramidis, Elias (author) | Publication Date: | 2012 | DOI: | 10.1080/08856257.2012.691230 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/16134 | Abstract: | The aim of this research was to examine the type of activities as well as the challenges faced by befrienders supporting persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Twenty-nine volunteers befriending an equal number of families with children with ASD participated in this study. Content analysis was applied on visit logs (n = 465) completed by befrienders during a nine month period, supplemented by thematically analysed evidence derived from semi-structured interviews with befrienders at the end of their volunteering experience. In agreement with our expectations, findings indicate a variation in the type, number and location of activities as well as the challenges of befrienders, depending on the level of ability of persons with ASD. Befrienders in both groups were mostly involved in leisure activities, had greater social interaction with the high functioning autistic group and carried out more structured 1:1 activities with individuas with low functioning autism. Interestingly, befrienders in both groups did not differ significantly on their reported challenges. The implications of this befriending service as a means of social support for families with persons with ASD are discussed. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | European Journal of Special Needs Education, 27(3), p. 337-353 | Publisher: | Routledge | Place of Publication: | United Kingdom | ISSN: | 1469-591X 0885-6257 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 130312 Special Education and Disability | Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 390407 Inclusive education 390411 Special education and disability |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 939907 Special Needs Education | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 160203 Inclusive education | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
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