ISSN: 2945-4190
Lewis and Pinili (2024). Exploring Teacher Awareness and Challenges in Managing
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Behaviors in Inclusive Education Settings..
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World Journal on Education and Humanities Research
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Vol. 4, Issue 3, pp. 114-123
Received, July 2024; Revised Augusts 2024;
Accepted September 2024
Article
Exploring Teacher Awareness and Challenges in Managing Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Behaviors in Inclusive Education Settings
Mirasol Lewis
Lilibeth Pinili
Corresponding Author: lewismirasol@gmail.com
Abstract: This study examines the level of awareness among special education
and general education teachers regarding the behaviors of children with
autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and explores the relationship between this
awareness and two key demographic factors: years of experience and
attendance at autism-related seminars and trainings. The results indicate a
moderate level of awareness among the respondents, but no significant
correlation was found between years of teaching experience and awareness
levels. However, a significant positive correlation was observed between the
number of seminars attended and the level of awareness, highlighting the
critical role of professional development. Teachers reported several
challenges, including a lack of support from parents and school
administration, insufficient instructional materials, and difficulties managing
inclusive classrooms. The findings underscore the importance of continuous
training and institutional support to enhance teachers’ ability to effectively
support children with ASD in inclusive education settings.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), teacher awareness, special education, general
education, inclusive education
Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental
condition characterized by challenges in social communication and
behavior. The "spectrum" nature of ASD refers to the wide variability
in symptoms and severity observed among individuals (Jarbou et al.,
2021). Current estimates indicate a global increase in ASD prevalence,
with approximately 1 in 54 children diagnosed with ASD in the United
States (Maenner et al., 2020). The increasing number of children
diagnosed with ASD has resulted in a growing population of students
with ASD in schools, where the challenges they face often include