A study on addressing the social needs of children within the autistic spectrum in primary schools

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze the social needs of children within the autism spectrum with a special focus on children within the high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Both research questions aim to analyse the main social needs and whether the members of the school community (Learning Support Educators and School Social Workers) have the adequate knowledge and skills to meet the children’s’ needs and to support these children in primary schools, which ultimately effects their inclusion and integration. This research adopts a qualitative approach, done through five semi-structured interviews to delve deeper into the perspectives and attitudes of the members in the school community and parents towards children within the autism spectrum.

This research identified two principal social needs of these children and these are related to social interaction and social communication. Both literature and this research showed the importance of intervening since for these children these are basic skills that need to be learnt. This dissertation points out barriers that are currently present in primary schools and different strategies that could be implemented. Apart from this, it was highlighted how the role of the school social worker and that of the learning support educator are important in the primary school experience of children. When it comes to their knowledge and skills to support children with autism, this research show if and in which way has knowledge increased over the years, however it seems that more improvement is still needed. In fact, the importance of continuous professional development was highlighted.