PERCEIVED ACCESSIBILITY, ACCEPTABILITY, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNICATION INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: EVIDENCE FROM A PARENT-REPORTED QUANTITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Communication difficulties are a central concern for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the usefulness of communication-focused interventions depends on more than their clinical availability. This study examined parents’ perceptions of the accessibility, acceptability, and perceived effectiveness of communication interventions for children with ASD in Punjab, Pakistan. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used, and data were collected from 200 parents of children with ASD receiving speech therapy, occupational therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis, or other communication-related services in selected autism centers across Punjab. The questionnaire measured six domains: access and awareness, early experiences and initial services, observed progress and intervention effectiveness, family involvement and home strategies, barriers and cultural context, and recommendations for service improvement. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used for analysis. The findings showed a moderate pattern of parental perceptions across most domains, indicating that services were available to some extent but remained inconsistent in quality, coordination, and outcome focus. The lowest mean was reported for observed progress and intervention effectiveness, suggesting limited and uneven improvement in children’s functional communication. Urban and rural parents differed significantly only in family involvement and home strategies, with urban parents reporting stronger support. Annual household income did not significantly influence any domain, indicating that barriers were not only financial but also structural and systemic. However, the study was limited by its cross-sectional design, reliance on parent-reported data, and inclusion of only parents connected with selected autism centers. The study concludes that ASD communication intervention services in Punjab require stronger referral pathways, trained professionals, parent coaching, rural outreach, individualized planning, and government-supported service models.