[Disclosure of a diagnosis of childhood autism and parents' acceptance of the disability].

Mothers of 14 children (10 boys, 4 girls) with childhood autism answered the self-report questionnaire regarding the disclosure of a diagnosis of autism and their acceptance of the disability. The children's mean age at the study was 8.6 years, and their ages at the time of the disclosure and acceptance were 4.0 and 5.2 years, respectively. The age at acceptance exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with the age of disclosure indicating that early disclosure was related to early acceptance. The results obtained in the questionnaire suggested that the increased understanding of autistic behavior, the accumulated experience as to how to communicate with their own child and the existence of a self-care group to support the parents were important factors for the acceptance of the disability. The significance of the professionals' sympathetic manner at the time of disclosure, full explanation of the disability, instruction as to how to cope the disability and providing the information on social resources available in the local district was also discussed in relation to the acceptance of the disability.