A Study of Asian Children Who are Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Available Support Services in Auckland, New Zealand

ABSTRACTThis exploratory study analyzes the perceptions of Disability Support Services (DSS) personnel regarding the transition process and documentation requirements to receive services for students with invisible disabilities in postsecondary settings. Invisible disabilities include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, and traumatic brain injury. DSS personnel from 408 postsecondary institutions across the United States completed the researcher-generated survey online. Results indicated a lack of consistent collaboration with secondary institutions and use of transition plans to determine eligibility for disability services. Participants reported a lackluster view of their usefulness, and analyses of their free responses revealed specific themes for what DSS personnel reported would make transition reports more useful. Results regarding currency requirements, qualified conductors of, responsible parties for, and location of assessments are presented. Applications of the findings of this research are discussed for the preparation of effective transition reports and transition goals.

ABSTRACTThis qualitative study focuses on the changing system of professional care for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. We have explored parents’ experiences of caring for a child with ASD focusing on their perceptions of educational, health and social support services available to them in their communities. Focus group discussions with 17 parents raising children with ASD were conducted in two major cities of Kazakhstan. Focus group interview data were transcribed and analysed using open coding and axial coding procedures. The following main themes and categories were identified and discussed: delayed detection of ASD and multiple pathways to the diagnosis; challenges for families in accessing and receiving health care for children with ASD in the public health care system; obstacles to accessing special education and a lack of inclusive education programmes for children with ASD; limited public benefits and social services available for these families in their communities; the lack of support from professional service providers in aiding parents with children ASD; and low public awareness of the disorder in the society. Drawing on family caregivers’ perspectives, recommendations for policy-makers and service providers are given to strengthen the care for children with ASD in Kazakhstan.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology of disability in India and assess access to disability support and rehabilitation services by people with disability (PWD).DesignThis study is a secondary analysis of data from the 76th round of the National Sample Survey (2018), focusing on disability in India.SettingThe survey employed a stratified two-stage sampling design based on Census 2011, covering all states and union territories of India. Villages and urban blocks were selected in the first stage, while households were chosen in the second stage across rural and urban areas.ParticipantsThe survey included data from a population of 576 796 individuals residing in 118 152 households from 8992 village/urban blocks (5378 rural villages and 3614 urban blocks). The analysis focused on 107 125 individuals (61 707 male and 45 305 female) who reported at least one disability.Outcome measuresThe primary outcome was ‘any disability’. Secondary outcomes included access to disability support and rehabilitation services, which assessed difficulties in accessing public buildings and transport, loss of employment after disability, availability of government support, enrolment in special schools, and possession of a disability certificate.ResultsThe overall weighted disability prevalence was 2.2%, with significant disparities across sociodemographic characteristics. Among PWD, 45.9% of those who acquired disability after birth were aged between 15 years and 59 years, and 20.8% received no government aid. About 40% of PWD struggled to use public transport, and 57.7% had difficulties accessing public buildings. Additionally, 60.7% reported job loss due to disability, and 69.6% lacked a disability certificate.ConclusionThis study highlights disparities faced by PWD in accessing disability support and rehabilitation services. There is an urgent need for concerted efforts to minimise such experiences. This will help us enhance the well-being and participation of PWD and empower them to contribute to society with their true potential.

The February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake severely affected 11 provinces in Türkiye, disrupting services for vulnerable groups. This research aims to examine the difficulties that children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face in education, health, and social support services from the parental perspective following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023. The research used a basic qualitative research method and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 parents residing in Malatya, which was affected by the earthquake. The data obtained were examined with content analysis method. Students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have been found to experience significant declines in their educational performance, health routines (in adapting to them) and basic skills such as going to the toilet, eating and self-care. At the same time, parents faced difficulties in accessing health and social services. As a result of the research, it was determined that the interruption of the daily routines of children diagnosed with ASD and their alienation from their social environments after the disaster increased behavioral and emotional problems. It was emphasized that alternative education models should be developed for children diagnosed with ASD during disaster periods and families should be encouraged to take an active role in this process. Following disasters, ABA practices, mobile tools and teletherapy should be integrated into technology-based disaster response policies to continue ASD training and therapy.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-23025-8.

PurposeMyalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC) are debilitating, chronic multi-systemic illnesses that require multidisciplinary care. However, people with ME/CFS (pwME/CFS) and people with PCC (pwPCC) are often precluded from accessing necessary disability and social support services. These unmet care needs exacerbate the existing illness burdens experienced by pwME/CFS and pwPCC. To deliver appropriate care and optimise health outcomes for pwME/CFS and pwPCC, the development of evidence-based healthcare policies that recognise the disabling impacts of these illnesses must be prioritised. This systematic review summarises the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of pwME/CFS and pwPCC when compared with healthy controls (HCs) to elucidate the impacts of these illnesses and guide healthcare policy reform.MethodsCINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO and the Web of Science Core Collection were systematically searched from 1st January 2003 to 23rd July 2024. Eligible publications included observational studies capturing quantitative HRQoL data among pwME/CFS or pwPCC when compared with HCs. The use of validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) was mandatory. Eligible studies were also required to employ the most stringent diagnostic criteria currently available, including the Canadian Consensus Criteria or International Consensus Criteria for ME/CFS and the World Health Organization case definition for PCC (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024501309).ResultsThis review captured 16 studies, including eight studies among pwME/CFS, seven studies among pwPCC and one study among both illness cohorts. Most participants were female and middle-aged. All pwPCC had experienced prolonged COVID-19 symptoms for at least three months. When compared with HCs, all HRQoL domains were significantly impaired among pwME/CFS and pwPCC. Both illnesses had a salient impact on physical health, including pain and ability to perform daily and work activities. While direct comparisons between pwME/CFS and pwPCC were limited by inconsistencies in the PROMs employed, comparable impact trends across HRQoL domain scores were observed.ConclusionME/CFS and PCC have similar, profound impacts on HRQoL that warrant access to multidisciplinary disability and social support services. Future research must harmonise HRQoL data collection and prioritise longitudinal investigations among pwME/CFS and pwPCC to characterise PCC subgroups (including those fulfilling ME/CFS criteria) and predictors of prognosis.

Health EconomicsVolume 6, Issue 1 p. 1-9 Guest EditorialFree Access Bridging the Gap Between Public Expectations and Public Willingness to Pay Clive H. Smee, Corresponding Author Clive H. Smee Visiting Professor, Department of Economics, University of Surrey and Chief Economic Adviser, Department of Health, London, UKC. H. Smee, Department of Health, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LW, UK.===Search for more papers by this author Clive H. Smee, Corresponding Author Clive H. Smee Visiting Professor, Department of Economics, University of Surrey and Chief Economic Adviser, Department of Health, London, UKC. H. Smee, Department of Health, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LW, UK.===Search for more papers by this author First published: 04 December 1998 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1050(199701)6:1<1::AID-HEC240>3.0.CO;2-OCitations: 6AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References 1 OECD Health Data, 1996. The normal cautions apply to all these international comparisons. 2 Policy and Consultation Branch, Health Canada. National Health Expenditures in Canada. 1975-1994 Canada: Minister of Supply and Services, 1996. 3 Drug Utilization Sub-Committee of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Prescription drug utilization following change in the level of patient co-payment in Australia. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety in press. 4 Center for Corporate Health Inc. A Survey of Health Promotion and Patient Education Programs Offered by HMO, January 1995. Reported in Medical Benefits 15 February 1995. 5 Liberal and National Parties Policy Statement. A Healthy Future. 12 February 1996. 6 Health Solutions. Independent Assessment of Casemix Payment in Victoria. A Report to the Casemix Development Program of the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health. Melbourne: Health Solutions, 1994. 7 National Health Ministers' Benchmarking Working Group. First National Report on Health Sector Performance Indicators: Public Hospitals – the State of Play. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1996. 8 Lomas, J. Devolved authorities in Canada: the new site of health-care system conflict. In: J. L. Dorland and S. M. Davis (Eds) How Many Roads? Regionalization and Decentralization in Health Care. Queens University School of Policy Studies, 1996. 9 Robinson, J. C. and Casalino, C. P. Vertical integration and organizational networks in health care. Health Affairs 1996: 15: 7– 22. 10 CBO Memorandum. The Effect of Managed Care and Managed Competition. Washington, DC: Congressional Budget Office, February 1995. 11 National Advisory Committee on Core Health and Disability Support Services. Fourth Annual Report. Wellington: National Advisory Committee on Core Health and Disability Support Services, September 1995. 12 Maynard, A. International Experience with Decentralization and Regionalization - United Kingdom. In: J. L. Dorland and S. M. Davis (Eds) How Many Roads? Regionalization and Decentralization in Health Care. Queens University School of Policy Studies, 1996. 13 Fuchs, V. R. Economics, values and health care reform. The American Economic Review 1996: 86: 1– 24. Citing Literature Volume6, Issue1January 1997Pages 1-9 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and usage patterns of traditional Korean herbal medicine users, as well as the factors related to traditional Korean herbal medicine usage, using data from the 2020 Korean Medical Panel.Methods: Characteristics between traditional Korean herbal medicine users and non-users were compared using the chi-squared test. Additionally, binomial logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the factors influencing traditional Korean herbal medicine usage. Andersen's healthcare utilization model was used to examine factors that potentially influenced the usage of traditional Korean herbal medicine.Results: Analysis using Andersen's healthcare utilization model revealed significant differences in factors influencing traditional Korean herbal medicine usage. Predisposing factors such as age and region; enabling factors such as annual household income; and need factors such as the presence of chronic diseases and the number of chronic disease episodes were all significant.Conclusions: Further research on the various factors influencing the use of traditional Korean herbal medicine could extend beyond short-term policy challenges to explore individual health issues and the direction of health care policy from a broader, macro perspective.

In recent years, the number of students in higher education who are requesting services, from university offices of Disability Support Services (DSS) has increased dramatically, While surveys suggest that the majority of DSS offices are providing academic support services to their students with disabilities, these services, while necessary, are not sufficient to address the needs of these students in a holistic fashion. This article will discuss ways in which the philosophy of rehabilitation counseling can be utilized to assist the DSS office in providing more comprehensive services, with the goal of increasing the students' functioning to the highest level possible in all areas of their lives. Through adherence to this philosophy, the DSS office can become an effective extension of the rehabilitation process to students with disabilities.

Given the growing number of inclusive higher education, it is critical to understand how the disability support centre works for college students with disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore disability support services for college students with disabilities in the United States and to provide implications for the Korean higher education system. We examined the perspectives of five specialists on the implications of disability support services on campus based on the mid-western public ‘A’ university in the United States via in-depth interviews, field notes, and program evaluation. Thematic analysis was used to identify the relevant theme: overall disability support services on campus, qualification and roles of specialists, and implications for individualised supports. By examining the successful case of disability support services at the ‘A’ university, it would provide implications for practices and policy to reform the college disability support centre in South Korea.

BackgroundHIV is a major public health problem in the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It often leads to loss of productive labour and disruption of existing social support system which results in deterioration of population health. This poses a great challenge to infected people in meeting their essential goods and services. This paper examines health and social support services provided by employers to HIV/AIDS infected employees in Tanzania.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study, which employed qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and analysis. Structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to assess the health and social support services provision at employers and employees perspectives. The study participants were employees and employers from public and private organizations.ResultsA total of 181 employees and 23 employers from 23 workplaces aged between 18–68 years were involved. The results show that 23.8% (i.e., 20.4% males and 27.3% females) of the employees had at least one member of the family or close relatives living with HIV at the time of the study. Fifty six percent of the infected employees reported to have been receiving health or social support from their employers. Employees’ responses were consistent with those reported by their employers. A total of 12(52.2%) and 11(47.8%) employers reported to have been providing health and social supports respectively. Female employees (58.3%) from the private sector (60.0%) were more likely to receive supports than male employees (52.6%) and than those from the public sector (46.2%). The most common health and social support received by the employees were treatment, and nutritional support and reduction of workload, respectively.ConclusionsHIV/AIDS infected employees named treatment and nutritional support, and soft loans and reduced workload respectively, as the most important health and social supports they needed from their employers. This study provides baseline information for further studies on provision of health and social support services by employers to HIV/AIDS infected employees in the context of a developing economy like Tanzania.

Objective: This qualitative study explored parental perceptions of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: Forty-one parents of children with ASD participated in five focus groups to explore their experiences with ASD services in the UAE. These moderated focus groups were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The following primary themes and subthemes were identified: (a) lack of awareness and support, (b) challenges in accessibility and affordability, (c) inconsistent quality of therapeutic services, and (d) Lack of educational inclusion and support. Conclusion: Findings of this study support the need for creating a comprehensive system of care for ASD that is coordinated, is person centered, and promotes continuity of care that improves the outcomes for those “navigating” the often-fragmented system of ASD in the UAE.

Cigarette smoking and interest in quitting among consumers at a Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Service in Victoria

Individuals with intellectual disability are often reported to be overrepresented in prison populations and to have higher recidivism rates compared to those without intellectual disability, although these patterns vary substantially between countries and jurisdictions. Receiving post-release disability support services have been associated with reduced recidivism, most likely through mechanisms such as improved housing stability, mental health and social integration. This study aimed to further this literature by exploring predictors of receiving disability support after release from prison in adults with intellectual disability. This retrospective cohort study analysed linked health and administrative data from New South Wales, Australia, to identify predictors of post-release disability support. Discrete-time survival analysis was used, incorporating variables such as age, gender, Aboriginal status and comorbid conditions. Insights from lived experience consultants with intellectual disability and incarceration histories were integrated to enhance our understanding of the findings and implications. A total of 1868 individuals with intellectual disability were released from custody in New South Wales between 2005 and 2015 and included in this study. Of these, 49.1% received disability support services in the year following release. Older age, mental illness and substance use were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving support, whilst autism, history of self-harm and higher socio-economic status were linked to increased support. These findings are evident of 'cycling' (repeated incarceration), 'complexity' (overlapping needs), 'acuteness' (health service contact) and 'resources' (social and financial) effects in shaping access to post-release support. The findings reflect the challenge presented by the complex needs of those with intellectual disability who are justice-involved. The harmful and perpetuating nature of repeated incarceration for those with intellectual disability must be recognized and responded to. Targeted release planning is needed to improve disability support service receipt, particularly for those who have served long or repeated sentences and those with complex co-occurring mental health needs, with financial and social resource enhancement being ideal additional targets for intervention.

Prisoners with an intellectual disability (ID) are an over-represented group in custody, with studies indicating this group is more likely to reoffend and be reincarcerated than the general prison population. While prisoners with ID share many of the same risk factors for recidivism as the general prison population, the lack of adequate disability support has been argued to be an additional key driver of recidivism for this group. This study aims to investigate reincarceration and factors associated with reincarceration after a first adult custody episode, including the impact of provision of general and specialist disability supports. The study used linked disability support services and custody data to identify a cohort of 1,129 prisoners with ID who were released from a first adult custodial episode in New South Wales (NSW) between 2005 and 2015. Over the follow-up period, the linked custody data showed that 72% (813) of those identified with an ID and released from a first adult custodial episode returned to prison, of which 76% (617) received no post-release disability support. This study found that 27% (308) of the study cohort had received a disability support service post-release from adult custody. Receipt of disability support was associated with a lower risk of reincarceration, while younger age and shorter duration of the custodial episode were associated with higher risk of reincarceration. The potential for disability support to lower risk of reincarceration highlights the importance of funding programmes that connect prisoners with ID to appropriate post-release disability supports.

BackgroundLimited studies focused on the situation and related factors of access to healthcare services for older adults with limited activities of daily living (ADL) in China. This study explores factors associated with access to healthcare services of them based on Andersen's healthcare utilization model (namely, need, predisposing, and enabling dimensions).MethodsA total of 3,980 participants aged 65 years and older adults with limited ADL from the latest wave (2018) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were included. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the influencing factors.ResultsFactors in enabling dimension were associated with access to healthcare services for older adults with limited ADL. Those who lived with better economic status (fair vs poor, OR = 2.98, P < 0.01; rich vs poor, OR = 7.23, P = 0.01), could afford daily life (yes vs no, OR = 2.33, P = 0.03), and lived in the eastern or central region of China (eastern vs western, OR = 2.91, P < 0.01; central vs western, OR = 2.40, P = 0.02) could access to healthcare services more easily. However, factors in predisposing dimension and need dimension showed no statistical significance. Meanwhile, inconvenience in the movement was the major barrier reported by some participants for not going to the hospital when they got sick.ConclusionAccess to healthcare services for older adults with ADL limitation was mainly related to the factors of economic status, affordability for daily life, and living regions in enabling dimension. Strategies focused on health insurance, healthcare system, barrier-free facilities, and social support were proposed to increase the access to healthcare services for participants, which could benefit their health.