Inclusion in mainstream schooling for children with ASD : from a parental perspective

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to gather and explore the thoughts, opinions, and suggestions of parents whose children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with regards to the inclusive practices in the mainstream schools they attend. The schools in question were Government, Church and Private schools in Malta. Online semi-structured interviews were held in order to obtain an in-depth insight into the experiences of five parent participants, specifically mothers, all of whom have children with ASD. The data was analysed qualitatively using Thematic Analysis, from which three superordinate themes emerged, as well as three subthemes. The main findings show that all of the participants felt that the level of awareness regarding ASD is lacking, especially amongst educators. However, all the participants contributed and mentioned a number of ways by which awareness can be increased in society, for instance, by making use of media sources. Furthermore, parents suggested that more effective educational strategies can be implemented in order to increase inclusion within mainstream settings. Overall, even though many parents experienced challenges with regards to inclusion, the findings show that most of the parents think that presently, the level of inclusion in their children’s schools meets their expectations to a certain extent. These findings together with others were discussed in relation to literature on the topic. The limitations of the study were also addressed, as well as recommendations for any future research.