Facilitating Teachers Effective Inclusion of Students on the Autism Spectrum (original) (raw)
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Pedagogika
The article presents the results of a qualitative study revealing the challenges faced by primary school teachers in ensuring inclusive education for children with autism spectrum disorders (hereinafter ASD) in mainstream classrooms. Teachers face the following challenges: problem behaviour of children with ASD, difficulty in engaging children with ASD in the classroom community and common activities, difficulties in collaborating with other teachers, education support professionals, and parents.
The Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 2014
Research indicates that some teachers still have a long way to go in regards to the full acceptance of students on the autism spectrum as learners with potential (Goodall, 2013). The gap between theoretical knowledge and actual understanding of individual potential of students with autism is difficult for many teachers. A lack of understanding can obstruct the development of appropriate learning opportunities for students on the autism spectrum. This current research aimed to examine the ways in which teachers respond to complex demands of their teaching context to effectively teach their students on the autism spectrum. This current study found that increasing teacher knowledge around students on the spectrum did not improve teacher effectiveness for the students. Rather, an increase in understanding of the autism spectrum and of autistic experiences was most likely to facilitate more effective teaching of the students. For example, teachers who developed an understanding of why students on the autism spectrum did not comply, were able to see how finding mutual solutions could facilitate more effective teaching and reduce stress to both teacher and student/s.
Sabiedrība, integrācija, izglītība, 2020
The objective of the study presented in this article is to reveal supporting factors for primary school teachers in ensuring inclusive education for children with autism spectrum disorders (hereinafter the ASD). Qualitative research was chosen for the study. In the study, the method of a semi-structured written reflection was used. The obtained data was analysed by applying the content analysis method. Qualitative content analysis was carried out in accordance with the inductive, study data based and categories composed logic.16 primary school teachers participated in the study. The study data revealed that the school's inclusive culture and organization of inclusive education by the teacher at the classroom level had a significant importance for ensuring inclusive education for children with ASD. The school's openness to children diversity, implementation and cherishing of inclusive education values, favourable physical and psychosocial environment, ensuring support for learners, their parents, teachers and education support professionals, financial resources which allow for attracting necessary human and material resources, skilled teachers and professionals, the school's collaborating community and the school's collaboration with other institutions to ensure the quality of inclusive education were considered the key factors for the school's inclusive culture. The teacher's positive attitude to all the learners, child-oriented approach, favourable and inclusive educational and social environment created in the classroom, the teacher's close collaboration with learner's parents, other teachers and education support professionals, and continuous improvement of qualification were indicated as factors of the key importance for creation of an inclusive educational environment at the classroom level by teachers.
Educators’ Challenges of Including Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mainstream Classrooms
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 2013
Although children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are increasingly being placed within mainstream classes, little is known about the challenges that teachers encounter with including them as full participants in the class. This qualitative study draws on a purposive sample of 13 educators who have experience teaching children with ASD within two cities in Ontario, Canada. Through in-depth interviews we asked about teachers' challenges regarding creating an inclusive environment within their classroom. Teachers reported several challenges, including: understanding and managing behaviour; socio-structural barriers (i.e., school policy, lack of training and resources); and creating an inclusive environment (i.e., lack of understanding from other teachers, students and parents). Teachers recommend that more resources, training and support are needed to enhance the education and inclusion of children with ASD.
2014
This research focused on developing, implementing and evaluating a set of guidelines for key personnel who work with children with autism with the aim of successfully integrating children with autism into inclusive classes. An examination of the international literature indicated that the collaboration of key personnel is the main influence on the scholastic achievement of children with autism. The key personnel identified in the literature include teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, school principals and peer tutors, all of whom contribute to the process of integrating children with autism into inclusive classes. However, in Thailand there is limited information to assist these key personnel in this task. The purpose of the research study was to develop a set of guidelines for assisting children with autism in Thailand and refine them using an iterative process. The guidelines specifically aimed to provide knowledge and strategies to support key personnel to integrate children with autism into regular classes. In order to provide a suitable context, the guidelines were implemented in an inclusive school in Thailand. The three research questions the researcher sought to answer in this study were: i) what strategies should be included in the guidelines to assist key personnel to integrate children with autism into inclusive classrooms? ii) how effective are the guidelines in supporting key personnel to integrate children with autism into inclusive classes? and iii) how effective are the strategies used in the guidelines in developing behaviours that help children with autism to integrate into inclusive classes? A qualitative case study approach was selected to gain an in-depth understanding of the use and effectiveness of the guidelines. Nine children with high functioning autism were chosen for this study: three of kindergarten age, three of primary school age and three of secondary school age. Five key personnel for each child, including teachers, peer tutors, paraprofessionals, parents and school principals were asked to trial the guidelines. The opinion of five selected experienced Thai people involved with children with autism was also sought in order to determine the content validity of the study. The effectiveness of the guidelines was evaluated using triangulation of data including: classroom observations, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The Deming cycle PDCA model was used to organize the process of implementation and development. Page 2.2.5 Children with autism 1) Diagnosis and terminology 2) Prevalence 2.2.6 Inclusive education 1) Definitions and principles 2) The Thai situation 2.3 Part II: Overview of research involving key personnel 2.3.1 The peer tutors 2.3.2 The paraprofessionals 2.3.3 The teachers 2.3.4 The parents 2.3.5 The school principals 2.4 Part III: Overview of strategies for teaching children with autism 2.4.1 Social stories 2.4.2 Visual schedules and visual supports 2.4.3 Working with peers, peer support systems, peer interaction 2.4.4 Reinforcement: reward systems 2.4.5 Multidisciplinary therapy and sensory integration 2.5 Chapter summary
Dialogoi! Theory and Praxis in Education, 2017
The researchers conducted a literature review of teachers’ perceptions and attitudes on the inclusive education of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Research was conducted in ERIC, PsychLIT, EBSCO, Medline, and PubMed in order to find the relevant literature, using the following keywords “Teachers”, “Perceptions”, “Attitudes”, “Children with Autism”. From the search, 55 relevant research articles and dissertations were found. Results indicated that the majority of the teachers have limited or inadequate knowledge and basic misconceptions about ASD. They also have negative attitudes on the inclusive education of these students. On the other hand, few teachers have positive attitudes towards the integration of autistic pupils. A sufficient percentage of teachers have different attitudes/views on ASD. Additionally, this review revealed that some teachers hold neutral attitudes on the integration of these pupils. Furthermore, several educators perceive students with autism differently from typical students. This review suggests that teachers should receive more training on autism and the effective educational practices for these students. In this way, they will develop positive attitudes towards autistic children’s educational integration.positive attitudes towards the educational integration of students with autism.
Inclusion Through Exclusion: Teachers' Perspectives on Teaching Students with Autism
Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, Vol 9, No 1 (2014), 2014
Today the number of Swedish students attending schools for students in the need of special educational support, due to their difficulties to reach intended learning outcomes, has increased. The article describes some challenges teachers working with children with high functioning autism face. The study is based on interviews with six-form colleges teachers working in a Swedish school for students with high functioning autism. Questions that are raised in this study are: How do teachers interpret students’ needs and experiences? Which educational considerations dominate teachers’ reflections about educational practices? In which ways their school contributes to the implementation of ‘education for all’? The analysis shows that teachers advocate personalised teaching solutions, extra resources and methodological clarity. Teachers are expected to be highly adaptable and their work centres on students’ social skills, behavioural training and socialization of youth, rather than only helping students to achieve learning outcomes. Educational policies of inclusion are partly based on exclusionary processes.
The Inclusion of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mainstream Classrooms: Teachers’ Perspectives
2021
This dissertation explored the unique experiences of general education teachers teaching in an inclusive classroom (which will also be referred to as a “mainstream classroom”) with a combination of students with and without autism (which will also be referred to as “autism spectrum disorder” and “ASD”). This was a qualitative research study that applied the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research method, as presented by Smith, Flowers, and Larkin (2009). The participants in this study were seven general education teachers, each of whom taught kindergarten or fourth grade. Purposive sampling was used to gain a better understanding of the teachers’ experiences across the elementary school careers of students with autism. Four teachers taught in Massachusetts, two in New Jersey, and one in New York City. Out of the seven participants, three were kindergarten teachers and the remaining four were fourth-grade teachers. Through semi-structured interviews, participants’ exp...
Educational Psychology in Practice, 2017
In the context of a trend towards inclusive practice in Irish primary schools, many teachers feel ill-equipped to cope with this new challenge. Scope exists within the Irish education system to transform mainstream schools into autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) friendly environments. Research into teacher perceptions of inclusion has found that teachers' views impact on how inclusionary practices are implemented. This study utilised semi-structured interviews with six primary school teachers. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings from this study suggest that the majority of teachers were apprehensive and lacked confidence at the initial prospect of teaching a child with ASD. The majority of the teachers interviewed also described feelings of uncertainty in managing the behaviour of a child with ASD. These findings were analysed in the context of teachers' perceptions of systemic issues such as lack of access to resources, support and training in ASDspecific approaches.