Autism affects over 2% of the school population in England. Education has proven to be an effective intervention strategy that improves the quality of life of children with autism and their families. However, governmental austerity policies have increased disadvantage in coastal areas of England with a detrimental impact on people with disabilities. This qualitative study explored the lives of families living with autism in rural coastal England. Mothers, fathers, grandparents and young people from 21 families living with autism in West Norfolk and Cornwall shared their experience through semi-structured interviews that were conducted in early 2019. Families identified positive and negative aspects of living in these areas, including barriers preventing access to and inclusion in education. Barriers were related to poor infrastructure, sparse specialised services (resulting in diagnostic delay and difficulties), limited autism awareness, lack of trained professionals, and the impact of austerity across health, social care and education. Families’ struggles are amplified by the intersectionality of (a) autism-specific needs, (b) physical distance and small-community life related to rurality and (c) the seasonal and peripheral nature of coastal life. Access to education for children with autism in rural coastal areas of England could be improved by acknowledging and addressing the intersecting factors intensifying their marginalisation.

中文翻译：

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“这里真的什么都没有……”：自闭症、教育和生活在英格兰沿海农村地区的家庭的经历

自闭症影响了英格兰超过 2% 的学校人口。教育已被证明是一种有效的干预策略，可以提高自闭症儿童及其家庭的生活质量。然而，政府的紧缩政策增加了英格兰沿海地区的不利地位，对残疾人产生了不利影响。这项定性研究探讨了英格兰沿海农村自闭症家庭的生活。来自西诺福克和康沃尔 21 个自闭症家庭的母亲、父亲、祖父母和年轻人通过 2019 年初进行的半结构化访谈分享了他们的经历。和融入教育。障碍与基础设施薄弱有关，稀少的专业服务（导致诊断延迟和困难）、自闭症意识有限、缺乏训练有素的专业人员以及紧缩政策对卫生、社会保健和教育的影响。家庭的斗争因 (a) 自闭症特定需求、(b) 物理距离和与农村相关的小社区生活以及 (c) 沿海生活的季节性和外围性质的交叉性而被放大。通过承认和解决加剧边缘化的交叉因素，可以改善英格兰沿海农村地区自闭症儿童的教育机会。家庭的斗争因 (a) 自闭症特定需求、(b) 物理距离和与农村相关的小社区生活以及 (c) 沿海生活的季节性和外围性质的交叉性而被放大。通过承认和解决加剧边缘化的交叉因素，可以改善英格兰沿海农村地区自闭症儿童的教育机会。家庭的斗争因 (a) 自闭症特定需求、(b) 物理距离和与农村相关的小社区生活以及 (c) 沿海生活的季节性和外围性质的交叉性而被放大。通过承认和解决加剧边缘化的交叉因素，可以改善英格兰沿海农村地区自闭症儿童的教育机会。