Raising a child with a disability affects all members of the family. The pervasive nature of autism often requires that families adapt to the child’s disability in ways that restrict social relationships and typical family activities. These adaptations can be stressful and may challenge a families methods of coping. We are conducting this study to see what differences exist between families of children with autism in two very different cultures. What we learn will help us to identify cultural features that are supportive of family functioning and those that are less supportive.

Your participation in this study will enable us to better understand variation in family dynamics across cultures and will provide us with information that may contribute to more effective supports and sophisticated intervention methods.

The researchers are recruiting families that meet the following criteria:

* Are raising a child with a diagnosis of autism between the ages of 2 to 6 years,
* Only the mothers should complete the questionnaires,
* Both parents are second generation citizens of the United States,
* Both parents are willing to share information about their family’s functioning with the researchers. (All information will be kept strictly confidential)

Potential Benefits for families who participate in the study:
* While completing the questionnaires, you may see this experience as a chance to evaluate your families’ situation in concrete terms and you may benefit from this experience.
* On the other hand, you may not receive direct benefit from taking part in this study; however, your participation may indirectly contribute to the scientific literature and our understanding of the cross-cultural features of families raising a child with autism.

What will I be asked to do if I take part in this research study? If you agree to participate in this research study, you will be asked to engage in the following activities:
* Contact Seniz Celimli by email at e110748@metu.edu.tr or senizcelimli@gmail.com. If you wish to participate, she will send you a packet of materials including a consent to participate in the study and 4 brief questionnaires.
* Read the informed consent and if you agree to participate, sign the informed consent form.
* Respond to the set of 4 questionnaires. This will take approximately 1 hour.
* Return the consent and questionnaires to the researchers in the self-addressed, stamped envelope.

If you have questions about this study, please contact Seniz Celimli at e110748@metu.edu.tr; senizcelimli@gmail.com or Dr. Rick Blumberg at blumberg@tcnj.edu.