Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios
Date of Award
10-12-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Granting Institution
Lynn University
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Degree Program
Educational Leadership
Department
College of Education
First Advisor
Dr. Jennifer J. Lesh
Second Advisor
Dr. Diana Morales
Third Advisor
Dr. Ann Marie McSwain
Abstract
Families raising children with autism spectrum disorder face chronic stress, social isolation, and significant barriers to accessing consistent, relevant support. Existing digital tools are largely child-focused, fragmented, and not designed with caregiver well-being or peer connection in mind. This mixed-methods exploratory study assessed the viability of a community-based mobile application designed to address those gaps by connecting caregivers, providing practical strategies, and facilitating access to professional guidance.
The study was grounded in social support theory and the technology acceptance model, and examined caregiver-identified needs, preferred app features, and willingness to engage with a proposed digital platform. Data were collected from 51 survey participants and four follow-up interview participants recruited through autism-related community networks in South Florida. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed through thematic coding.
Findings indicated perceived caregiver need for a centralized support platform and favorable perceptions of the proposed app concept. Participants expressed interest in practical resources, peer connection, professional guidance, and supplemental AI-supported information. Survey responses also indicated high perceived usefulness and favorable stated intention to participate. Interview findings provided additional context concerning desired platform functions, credibility, accessibility, and ease of navigation.
These findings provide preliminary, sample-specific evidence of perceived need, perceived usefulness, feature preferences, and stated intention to engage with the proposed platform. Because participants did not interact with a functioning prototype, the study did not evaluate actual usability, adoption, clinical effectiveness, sustained engagement, or retention. The results support proceeding to user-centered prototype development and subsequent formal feasibility and usability testing.
Recommended Citation
Babulal, N. N. (2026). Exploring the Viability of a Mobile Platform for Families of Children with Autism: A Community-Based Approach [Doctoral dissertation, Lynn University]. SPIRAL. https://spiral.lynn.edu/etds/468
Comments
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