Special needs education as experienced by an adolescent with Asperger syndrome and related studies concerning relationship with maladaptive and delinquency factors.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Date (from‐to) : 2010 -2012
Author : UCHIYAMA Tokio; SAKAI Satoshi; HORIE Mayumi
An adolescent with Asperger syndrome was interviewed, the evaluation and awareness of special needs education by teachers, preschool teachers and parents were found using a questionnaire, and high school students were given training to increase their understanding and awareness of disabilities and the results were examined. From the interview, it was clear from comments in the interview, including “being forced into a group framework" and “discrepancy" with teachers' attitudes, that there had been some maladaptation. The questionnaire survey showed that there was a very high level of awareness of developmental disabilities. However, although teachers understood the need for special education, they assessed it as being less important than management. Comparison of educators' attitudes to special education in Japan and the UK showed that awareness of the needs of special education was higher in the UK, but in both countries there was the negative assessment that special education was not carried out appropriately. The training aimed at improving understanding of developmental disabilities was judged as effective since, after the training, the students had more positive views on disability and social participation.