Tvångsomhändertagen på felaktiga grunder? Barns autism och föräldrars omsorgsbrist i 2 § LVU-domar

Sammanfattning

This study aimed to examine how children's autism and parental maltreatment are described in court rulings involving child protection cases under § 2 of the Swedish Care of Young Persons Act (LVU). A qualitative approach was adopted, analyzing court rulings from the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal. The study utilized a norm-critical perspective and thematic analysis to explore how societal norms influence the assessment of parental abilities and children's behaviors. Key findings indicate that social services often fail to consider autism as an explanatory factor for certain behaviors, instead attributing these behaviors to parental deficiencies. This misinterpretation highlights a lack of neurodiversity awareness within social services. Additionally, the study revealed that parents of children with autism are held to higher caregiving standards due to their children’s special needs, which often leads to the justification of compulsory care on grounds that may not be entirely objective. The results suggest a need for improved understanding and support from social services to better address the unique needs of families with children with autism.