ABSTRACT
Objectives
Awareness of professionals such as special education and preschool teachers plays a crucial role in the early recognition of autism spectrum disorder and in directing children to appropriate healthcare services for timely intervention. This study aimed to examine the level of autism awareness among a group of special education and preschool teachers working in the province of Samsun.
Materials and Methods
A total of 151 teachers and master instructors participated in the study. The research data were collected via an online questionnaire created by the researchers using Google Forms. A sociodemographic data form was used to determine participants’ demographic characteristics, and the Autism Awareness Scale was employed to assess their level of awareness regarding autism.
Results
Findings indicated that participants generally had a good level of autism awareness; however, they showed limited knowledge about the causes of autism and social relationships among individuals with autism.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that curriculum content and professional development programs for teachers who are likely to work with children diagnosed with autism should include targeted training modules to enhance autism awareness.
Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorder, special education teachers, preschool teacher, autism awareness
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