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IntroductionFathers are increasingly involved in caring for children, and involvement by fathers of children with ASD is distinctly impacted by added demands of their child's diagnosis. Yet supports for families of children with ASD are not tailored to needs of fathers. We use an ecological framework to examine how fathers' needs are influenced by contexts ranging from the immediacy of their child's behaviour to overarching expectations for good fathering.MethodsWe thematically analyse data from semi‐structured interviews with 28 fathers of children with ASD who shared parenting stories of navigating their immediate and broader environments.FindingsFathers are responsive and reflective in their parenting and value recreationally based support activities that include their children. Fathers endorse father‐to‐father support and are interested in mentoring fathers newer to the experience of having a child with ASD.ConclusionsFathers are resourceful parents who compel a critical re‐examination towards advances in father‐friendly practices.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to uncover and understand factors influencing quality of care received by adults with developmental disabilities and/or mental health disorders living in group homes.MethodsThe present authors conducted a secondary analysis of data from nine focus group discussions with adults with developmental disabilities and/or mental health disorders, and their family and paid caregivers (N = 52). To focus the analysis, the present authors drew on the research literature to craft a model of quality of group home care using concepts of social inclusion and self‐determination, and corresponding staff approaches that include active support and person‐centred care.ResultsSocial inclusion and self‐determination for adults in group homes are facilitated by staff approaches and manifest in residents being understood and experiencing security and freedom.ConclusionsThe present authors offer recommendations for group home resources, training, communication and outcome measures that promote residents' being understood and experiencing security and freedom.

While an extensive body of work exists to support our understanding of the experiences of contemporary mothers, far less attention has been paid to the experiences of contemporary fathers. In this article, we set our sights on fathers; specifically, we examine how fathers strategically present their identities, or 'personas', as protectors, in relation to raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is the most common neurological disorder affecting children in Canada and the communication and behavioural challenges associated with a child's ASD diagnosis make for relatively intense parenting experiences. We tap into this intensity to examine how 28 fathers of children with ASD define and present themselves relative to the developmental needs of their children. The fathers exemplify an impactful blend of traditional and modern father ideals through personas that entail tender involvement along with fierce protectiveness.

Siblings sharing responsibility for parent care, and entitlement to parent assets, are sometimes dissatisfied with how their parents' estates are distributed following a period of care to the parent. Such dissatisfaction can be advanced through legal claims by some siblings that other siblings, during the course of giving care, exerted undue influence over the parent to obtain their assets. The Canadian legal doctrine of undue influence directs attention to what transpired between two parties in the interest of protecting vulnerable people from having to honor arrangements to which they did not truly consent. In these cases, the focus is on the relationship between a sibling as an adult child, and the now deceased care recipient parent. At the same time, these cases reflect expectations and dynamics among siblings relative to each other. In this paper, a family, rather than dyadic, perspective is employed to illuminate elements of undue influence claims that are relevant to the sibling experience of giving care and sharing assets. We thus expand on understandings of dyadic issues addressed by the courts.

ObjectiveAgainst a backdrop of hegemonic masculinity, we contribute to understandings of how having a child with autism impacts fathers' navigation of work and family responsibilities.BackgroundParents of children with autism face distinct needs related to accessing health, education, and social supports for their children. In supporting their children, fathers may feel pulled between traditional financial provider roles and relatively nurturing, involved styles of fathering.MethodUsing a traditional masculinity theoretical orientation, we conducted a directed content analysis of narrative data from 26 fathers of children with autism collected as part of a broader project. We analyzed approaches to fathering reflected in fathers' descriptions of managing work and family and corresponding meanings fathers attached to work relative to family responsibilities.ResultsFathering approaches included (a) traditional breadwinners, (b) caregiving breadwinners, (c) "tag‐team" parents, and (d) caregiving fathers. Meanings of work included (a) financial power and security in the face of autism; (b) work as information, support, and reprieve; and (c) work strain contributing to guilt, sadness, and depression.ConclusionFathers' responsibilities entailed a careful balancing between financial provision and caregiving for their children with autism. We identify theoretical and policy implications aimed at more fully understanding and supporting fathers of children with autism.