Quality of Educational Support for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Bosnia and Herzegovina-Perception of Parents and Professionals

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attend regular education schools and special education schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Regardless of the setting, it is important to provide early, high quality, programs to children with ASD. High quality educational support must encompass evidence-based programs for these children. The goal of the present study was to assess parents and special education teachers’ (SET) perceptions about the quality of educational supports for students with ASD in Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The sample for this study comprised 150 parents and 52 SET. We asked parents and SET about their opinions on the quality of educational support for children with ASD. The results of this study showed different perceptions that SET and parents have about the educational supports for children with ASD. High-quality, evidence-based supports and services need to become a common-place for children with autism in various educational settings. Parents need to be trained as co-therapists and work together with SET in improving the educational outcomes of children with ASD.

Keywords

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Quality of educational support
• Parents and teachers perceptions
• Bosnia and Herzegovina