Knowledge Among Pre-Service Special Education Teachers in North Malaysia Regarding the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Children

Nazmin Abdullah(1*), Mohd Hanafi Mohd Yasin(2), Aze Fauziah Suib(3)
  • (1) Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Darulaman
  • (2) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • (3) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • (*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence to be 1 in 59 individuals (CDC, 2018). With the increase in diagnosis of ASD comes the awareness of the unique needs of individuals with an ASD. Yet colleges of education rarely have an Autism specialization within their special education teacher preparation programs. Even though many students with ASD are served in the general education environment (Malaysia Special Education Division, 2019), few general education teachers receive any training for evidence-based practices for students with ASD. To better understand the current state of knowledge of ASD among special education teachers in training in North Malaysia, we surveyed knowledge and attitudes of special education teachers in training in north Malaysia regarding the disorder. 54 of 3rd year special education teachers in training in a teachers training institute in north Malaysia completed questionnaires assessing participant demographics, knowledge of typical child development and knowledge of ASD. Overall, the level of knowledge of ASD was moderate for the respondents in this research based on knowledge test and self evaluation. Inferential statistik showed demographic factors i.e. gender, level of education, school location and etc did not affects the knowledge about ASD. Majority of the respondents raised the needs of special training involving teaching strategy for ASD students.

Keywords

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); Teacher Training Institute; Pre-Service Teacher; Special Education Teacher

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
  • Baio, J. (2014). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years-autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2010.
  • Bölte, S. (2014). Is autism curable?. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 56(10), 927-931.
  • Buescher AV, Cidav Z, Knapp M, Mandell DS. (2014). Costs of autism spectrum disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States. JAMA Pediatr. 168(8):721–8.
  • Cohen H, Amerine-Dickens M, Smith T. (2006). Early intensive behavioral treatment: replication of the UCLA model in a community setting. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 27(2 Suppl):S145–55.
  • Eikeseth S, Smith T, Jahr E, Eldevik S. (2007). Outcome for children with autism who began intensive behavioral treatment between ages 4 and 7: a comparison controlled study. Behav Modif. 31(3):264–78.
  • Elsabbagh M, Divan G, Koh YJ, Kim YS, Kauchali S, Marcin C, et al. (2012). Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Autism Res. 5(3):160–79.
  • Fein D, Barton M, Eigsti IM, et al. (2013). Optimal outcome in individuals with a history of autism. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 54: 195–205
  • Fenske EC, Zalenski S, Krantz PJ, McClannahan LE. (1985). Age at intervention and treatment outcome for autistic children in a comprehensive intervention program. Anal Interv Dev Disabil.5(1–2):49–58.
  • Fernell E, Gillberg C. (2010). Autism spectrum disorder diagnoses in Stockholm preschoolers. Res Dev Disabil. 31(3):680–5.
  • Fombonne E. (2009). Epidemiology of pervasive developmental disorders. Pediatr. Res. 65(6):591–8.
  • Harris SL, Handleman JS. (2000). Age and IQ at intake as predictors of placement for young children with autism: a four- to six-year follow-up. J Autism Dev Disord. 30(2):137–42.
  • Helt M, Kelley E, Kinsbourne M, et al. (2008). Can children with autism recover? If so, how? Neuropsychol Rev. 18: 339–66.
  • Hertz-Picciotto I, Delwiche L. (2009). The rise in autism and the role of age at diagnosis. Epidemiology. 20(1):84–90.
  • Huang AX, Jia M, Wheeler JJ. (2013). Children with autism in the People's Republic of China: diagnosis, legal issues, and educational services. J Autism Dev Disord. 43(9):1991–2001.
  • Kaplan G, McCracken JT. (2012). Psychopharmacology of autism spectrum disorders. Pediatr Clin North Am. 59: 175–87.
  • Kasari C, Freeman SF, Paparella T. (2000). Early intervention in autism: Joint attention and symbolic play. Int Rev Res Mental Retard. 23:207–37.
  • Kogan MD, Blumberg SJ, Schieve LA, Boyle CA, Perrin JM, Ghandour RM, et al. (2009). Prevalence of parent-reported diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder among children in the US, 2007. Pediatrics. 124(5):1395–403.
  • Lian WB, Ying SH, Tean SC, Lin DC, Lian YC, Yun HL. (2008). Preschool teachers' knowledge, attitudes and practices on childhood developmental and behavioural disorders in Singapore. J Paediatr Child Health. 44(4):187–94.
  • Ou JJ, Shi LJ, Xun GL, Chen C, Wu RR, Luo XR, et al. (2015). Employment and financial burden of families with preschool children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders in urban China: results from a descriptive study. BMC Psychiatry. 15(1):3.Rutter M. (2005). Incidence of autism spectrum disorders: changes over time and their meaning. Acta Paediatr. 94(1):2–15.
  • Probst P, Leppert T. (2008). Brief report: outcomes of a teacher training program for autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 38(9):1791–6.
  • Remington B, Hastings RP, Kovshoff H. degli Espinosa F, Jahr E, Brown T, et al. (2007). Early intensive behavioral intervention: outcomes for children with autism and their parents after two years. Am J Ment Retard. 112(6): 418–38.
  • Sanz-Cervera, P., Fernández-Andrés, M. I., Pastor-Cerezuela, G., & Tárraga-Mínguez, R. (2017). Pre-service teachers’ knowledge, misconceptions and gaps about autism spectrum disorder. Teacher Education and Special Education, 40(3), 212-224.
  • Sun X, Allison C, Auyeung B, Matthews FE, Murray S, Baron-Cohen S, et al. (2013). Service provision for autism in mainland China: a service providers' perspective. Res Dev Disabil. 34(1):440–51.
  • Wang J, Zhou X, Xia W, Sun C, Wu L. (2012). Autism awareness and attitudes towards treatment in caregivers of children aged 3–6 years in Harbin, China. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. ;47(8):1301–8.
  • Zainun, Z., Masnan, A. H., Bakri, A. Z. A., Aspani, S. A., Hassan, N. A., & Zawawi, Z. (2019). Pengetahuan, sikap dan persepsi masyarakat tentang kanak-kanak autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Southeast Asia Early Childhood Journal, 8(1), 19-29.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.32698/GCS-04324

International Conference on Special Education In South East Asia Region 10th Series 2020

International Conference on Special Education In South East Asia Region 10th Series 2020

Redwhite Press

2685-5984

2685-5933

March 2020

© 2024 GCI, Global Conferences Series, Lda - All rights reserved.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.