ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Parents of children with autism tell us that the gap between their expectations of family life and their realities are at first irreconcilable (Greenfield, 1972; Naseef, 2001). Although parenting often begins for most of us with too little training or preparation, families that include a child with autism are certainly not ready for the impact and changes that will take place in their lives. With rare exceptions, these children are part of families who initially do have not the knowledge, skills, or support systems to help them deal with this challenge (Moses, 1987).
