Abstract: As the prevalence rate of autistic children continues to rise, the society is paying more attention to autism. The community offers a bridge for the rehabilitation of autistic children, so it is of great significance to help autistic children and their families to gain social acceptance and integrate into the society. This survey shows the contact and acceptance of autistic children and families in the communities through surveys on residents of three communities in Wuxi City, and offers discussion on the influencing factors. The study finds that the communities have little contact with autistic children and families, while their attitudes towards them appear contradictory; although the residents themselves are willing to accept autistic children and families as their neighbors, few are willing to befriend them and are more reluctant to let their own children contact autistic ones. Thus it can be seen that children and families with autism are confronted with the realistic dilemma of community acceptance. In view of the importance of social support for autistic children and families, we shall take providing comprehensive social support for autistic children and families as an important strategy for breakthrough.

Key words: autistic children and families, community acceptance, social support