Developing Autistic Children’s ESL Learning Experiences: Parents’ Challenges and Needs in Rural Areas

This study examines the parents’ challenges and needs in assisting their autistic children’s English language learning at home. Parents of autistic children in the rural areas require attention as they too need the proper support for their children’s language learning endeavours. Currently, there is a dearth of studies on parents’ challenges and needs in facilitating the development of their children’s language acquisition in English at home. Through a narrative review method, this paper focuses on the challenges and needs of parents of children with autism in the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak. The analysis of the relevant literature reveals several challenges faced by parents of autistic children in the rural areas. These include communication and behavioural barriers, parents’ own limited knowledge and emotional stress, and lack of collaborative support from the community. The review also highlights the needs of the parents in preparing a conducive home learning environment to optimise their autistic children’s ESL learning experiences. Among the needs identified are training in autism-specific English language teaching strategies, emotional and psychological support, and more potent home-school collaborative synergy. It implies that parents have an essential role to play in enriching their autistic children’s English language learning experiences at home.