The Inclusion of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders within the Albanian Educational System - A Complex Problem

Abstract

Parents and pedagogical staff face real challenges because of the alarming growth of cases of Autism Spectrum Disorders, especially of those with symptoms mainly in the cognitive, social, and emotional area. The inclusion of children with ASD-s in normal classrooms, is a complex problem related to the difficulties children display as much as to the deficiency of their psycho-pedagogical treatment. Statistics of the Regional Educational Directorate of Tirana, highlight the fact that there are thirteen autistic pupils who are attending Grade 1 during the academic year 2012-2013. What about the others? It is not easy to define the number of those children who attend school or those who do not, and of those who are integrated into classrooms with normal children. This study is focused on analyzing the factors which influence the exclusion of children with ASDs in the elementary educational system and its consequences. The applied methodology is: study of the literature about education of children with ASDs, focus groups of parents, analysis of statistical data of the Regional Educational Directorate of Tirana. The aim of this study is to bring in facts and arguments about the elements that influence the exclusion of children with ASDs from the educational system, from the point of view of the parent-who has faced to this challenge, and of the schoolmaster- who determines the psycho-pedagogical concerns of the treatment of this category of children, intending to work so as to achieve their inclusion in normal classrooms.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p614