ERIC Number: ED607751
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2501-2428
EISSN: N/A
Perspectives of Volunteer Pre-Service Teachers and Parents on a Summer Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Online Submission, European Journal of Special Education Research v6 n2 p1-22 2020
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are more likely to have regression in acquired skills in summer than typically developing peers, while parents have also more limited options to provide summer alternatives for their children. This study aimed to understand perspectives of parents of children with ASD and pre-service teachers volunteered on a social enhancement summer program delivered through a university for children with ASD. Semi-structured interviews were performed with both participant groups along with focus group discussion with volunteers, while an inductive analysis process was used for data analysis. The analysis of data obtained from both parents and volunteers revealed three main themes along with related subthemes: (a) the need for summer program, (b) suggestions for effective summer program, and (c) benefits of the summer program. The perspectives of two groups of participants generally overlap and they demonstrate similar thoughts. The results show that summer programs can be an effective alternative to maintain the current level of children with ASD in summers.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Preservice Teachers, Student Attitudes, Volunteers, Parent Attitudes, Summer Programs, Children, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Interpersonal Competence, Program Descriptions, Special Education, Educational Demand, Program Effectiveness, Educational Benefits
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A