Demonstrating social support from Autism bloggers community on Twitter

Abstract

With an increasing number of kids diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), countries face a shortage of resources for efficient delivery of autism support. Social media sites provide open and accessible communication platforms for families, caregivers, and individuals with autism to share, connect, and exchange information with others. We systematically analyze these interactions on blogs and Twitter among families and autism communities to extract knowledge and develop practical and useful learning tools. The study found that the autism community provides significant social support to its members. Social support facilitated by community members can help caregivers surmount challenges and be effective in reducing psychological stress and enhancing the quality of life for individuals diagnosed with ASD.