Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03936-y ORIGINAL PAPER A Study of Asian Children Who are Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Available Support Services in Auckland, New Zealand Myint Htut 1  · Elsie Ho 1  · Janine Wiles 1 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019 Abstract This study reviews the demographic characteristics of Asian children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Auckland, New Zealand, the support services they can access, and how more equitable access to health services can be provided. We examined government and non-government support services for Asian children diagnosed with ASD and their families. The fndings refect the complexities of navigating and accessing health, disability, education and social support services. Analysis of Ministry of Health Disability Support Services (DSSs) data suggest that Asians in New Zealand are underrepresented in utilizing DSSs. Drawing on Andersen’s health care utilization model, suggestions for more equitable access to health, disability, education and social support include culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and social policies. Keywords Asian · Equity · Support services · Fragmentation · Demographic characteristics Introduction Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have com- plex and varying support needs (American Psychiatric Asso- ciation 2013; Lauritsen 2013; Lord et al. 2000; Manning- Courtney et al. 2013; Myers and Johnson 2007), and a high chance of experiencing unmet needs (Bromley et al. 2004; Kogan et al. 2008; Thomas et al. 2007). ASD can cause stress for families (Bromley et al. 2004; Lang et al. 2013) who need to be able to access appropriate support services for their children as well as support to cope with the stress of caring for their children, such as counselling and respite care (Floyd and Gallagher 1997; Thomas et al. 2007). However, it is often complicated to navigate the services available for children with ASD because a range of government and non- government agencies are involved in providing support and services to these children (Kohler 1999; Reilly and Wicks 2016). Asian families with ASD children may experience more stress because Asian cultural norms and beliefs can be a barrier for them to access support services (Welter- lin and LaRue 2007). In many Asian cultures, ASD can be associated with mental illness and behavioral issues, and attracts stigma and shame (Hughes 2011; Lam 2013; Lam et al. 2010; Waldman et al. 2016). Eastern philosophical and religious infuences, originating in historical Confu- cian, Taoist, and Buddhist beliefs and teachings (Lam et al. 2010), encourage people to practice self-control, and focus on maintaining social harmony and not express emotions openly within the group. There are expectations that indi- viduals maintain harmony and be considerate towards others in order to achieve peaceful coexistence within family and with those in the community at large (Kramer et al. 2002). Disrupting this social harmony by displaying symptoms of a mental illness can be seen as defying the social order and causes stigma (Kramer et al. 2002). The stigma can taint the whole family and subsequently there may be great shame felt by parents of children with ASD in the Asian culture (Shea and Yeh 2008). Some Asian mothers may have a sense of self-blame for having a child with ASD and wonder if they might have eaten the wrong food or done a wrong thing (Lam 2013). Hence, some Asian families try to hide their child with ASD from relatives and * Janine Wiles j.wiles@auckland.ac.nz 1 Social and Community Health, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand