WAFT

Well-being, Autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, Families, Teachers and caregivers

The WAFT program is a research program aimed at studying and improving the well-being of persons with autism*, their families, and the professionals who support them (e.g., teachers, educators, and professional caregivers).

The program takes a systemic approach based on Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) eco-systemic model. Thus, within the framework of this program, we start from the premise that there are interactions between different systems that are connected to the autistic person’s situation and can influence or be influenced by it. Despite the existence of common characteristics, the substantial heterogeneity in the clinical forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requires adaptation from all living environments, particularly the family and school environments. This experience can be a significant source of stress for families following diagnosis, as well as for teachers and professionals who feel unprepared to meet the special educational needs of students with autism. Read more…

Research axis

Well-being of teachers and professionals