Zaidman-Zait, A., Mirenda, P., Duku, E., Vaillancourt, T., Smith, I. M., Szatmari, P., ... & Zwaigenbaum, L. (2016). Impact of personal and social resources on parenting stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 1362361316633033.
 
283 parents completed several measures when their young child was diagnosed and 2 years later. They found the following:

1. Child externalizing (such as aggression) behaviors were related to parent stress.
2. Parent stress was also related to insufficient personal and social resources.
3. Lower parent stress occurred when they used active strategies (such as problem solving, getting help) instead of disengaged coping strategies (such as distancing self, avoiding problems, becoming emotionally negative).

Recommendations include: teaching parents to use active coping strategies and self-regulation skills and teaching young children self-regulation skills.

Zuckerman, K., Lindly, O. J., & Chavez, A. E. (2016). Timeliness of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Use of Services Among US Elementary School–Aged Children. Psychiatric Services, appi-ps.

The CDC's Survey of Pathways to Diagnosis and Services was used to assess the experience of 722 children with ASD between the ages of 6 and 11. Findings were as follows:

1. Parents were first concerned about their child when they were 2.1 years of age.
2. Parent received a diagnosis for their child when they were 4.4 years of age.
3. Child services included: (a) school-based therapy (79%), psychotropic medications (49%), behavioral intervention (32%), and complementary and alternative medication (CAM) (16%).
4. Children whose delay time between parent concern and diagnosis were less likely to use ASD-related therapy services and more likely to take psychotropic medication and use CAM.
5. Nearly 1/2 of children who were 4 years of age and older did not receive school-based therapy and over 50% did not receive behavioral intervention.

Russell, A. J., Murphy, C. M., Wilson, E., Gillan, N., Brown, C., Robertson, D. M., ... & McAlonan, G. M. (2016). The mental health of individuals referred for assessment of autism spectrum disorder in adulthood: A clinic report. Autism, 20(5), 623-627.

This study of 859 adults referred for assessment of ASD revealed that 474 had ASD and 385 did not. Those with ASD were more likely to have an anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Those without ASD were more likely to have bi-polar affective disorder and alcohol dependence.

Bush, R. A., Stahmer, A. C., & Connelly, C. D. (2015). Exploring perceptions and use of the electronic health record by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative study. Health informatics journal, 1460458215581911.

9 parents of children with ASD under 19 years of age were interviewed regarding electronic health records (EHR). Two groups of parents were identified in the study:

1. Those who were willing to use the portal but did not find that it enhanced or streamlined care. They found that it took too much time, did not save time over a telephone scheduling, and was too complicated to see on a smart phone.
2. Those who would not use the portal in any circumstance because it was difficult to use and had limited capabilities.  

Fifield, J. (2016, August). States look to help aging parents of those with disabilities. Disability Scoop. Retrieved from https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/08/10/states-aging-parents-disabilities/22605.

Most people with disabilities who receive Medicaid help have been cared for at home by family members. About 860,000 people over 60 care for individuals with disabilities across the nation. A few states have passed laws to give older caregivers an opportunity to help decide where and how the person they care for will live.