Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Education and General Education Teachers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v3i1.40Keywords:
Autism, Awareness, Knowledge, Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Special Education, General Education TeachersAbstract
BACKGROUND: Autism is a lifelong Neuro-developmental disorder which affects the child ability to make social interaction, communication, and increase abnormal behaviours. Many professionals including teachers are not well aware of the appropriate diagnostic criteria and they have misconceptions regarding autism which compromise the early diagnosis of Autism.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to determine the awareness of the teachers of special and general education regarding the autism spectrum disorder.
METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey. The data was obtained from private and governmental general education schools in Lahore, Punjab, including specialized education centres. The total number of participants was 344; a standardized "Knowledge of the autism questionnaire" was distributed among special educators in individual education centres and teachers in general education schools who had one or more experience. The data was analysed in SPSS.
RESULTS: The results show that special education teachers have a relatively greater awareness of autism rather than general education teachers i-e their highest score was 102 where as general education teachers had a score of 42.
CONCLUSION: It is concluded that general education teachers in the field have limited knowledge of autism due to the presence of various misunderstandings. They are not well trained and educated in this field. The result of the study shows that there should be continuing education for teachers, particularly general education teachers and health professionals in all disciplines concerning autism.
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