Canada is home to a mosaic of cultures with immigrant communities from a wide range of countries, but there are significant variations in how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be understood across different immigrant groups, including Sri Lankan Tamils. Such gaps in knowledge may present challenges for immigrant families that are trying to access appropriate care for their child, including occupational therapy services. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to better understand the experiences of immigrant Sri Lankan Tamil parents of children diagnosed with ASD in Southern Ontario, Canada. Interviews were analyzed using an in-depth content analysis. Results demonstrated parents’ perceived supports and barriers towards ASD intervention planning, and indicated that parents were generally satisfied by the level of cultural competence in current ASD systems. However, families may still experience significant immigrant-related barriers that are not fully addressed. Recommendations to improve cultural awareness among occupational therapists utilizing ASD interventions are suggested.

加拿大拥有来自不同国家的移民社区的多元文化，但在包括斯里兰卡泰米尔人在内的不同移民群体中，对自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 的理解存在显着差异。这种知识差距可能会给试图为其孩子提供适当护理（包括职业治疗服务）的移民家庭带来挑战。这项描述性的定性研究旨在更好地了解在加拿大安大略省南部被诊断患有 ASD 的儿童的移民斯里兰卡泰米尔人父母的经历。使用深入的内容分析对访谈进行了分析。结果表明父母对 ASD 干预计划的感知支持和障碍，并表示父母对当前 ASD 系统的文化能力水平普遍感到满意。然而，家庭可能仍会遇到尚未完全解决的与移民相关的重大障碍。建议使用 ASD 干预提高职业治疗师的文化意识。