Views of professionals about the educational needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders

16h

via ScienceDirect Publication: Research in Developmental Disabilities

Publication date: August 2019
Source: Research in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 91
Author(s): Jo Van Herwegen, Maria Ashworth, Olympia Palikara

Abstract

Background

Professionals play a key role in supporting children with special educational needs in schools. However, the views of those working with neurodevelopmental disorders are less known.

Aims

This study examined the views of professionals (including teachers, teaching assistants, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, physio and occupational therapists etc.) working with children with Williams Syndrome (WS), Down Syndrome (DS) or with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in terms of how informed professionals are about the disorder and their views about the type of support these children need to be receiving.

Methods and procedures

Professionals working with 77 children with ASD, 26 with DS and 38 with WS completed an online questionnaire.

Outcomes and results

Professionals in all three groups highlighted relevant areas of difficulty for these children, but they did not recognise some of the less phenotypical difficulties that children with a specific disorder may experience. In addition, there was a disconnect between the difficulties identified by the professionals and the type of specialist support that may be necessary.

Conclusions and implications

Although professionals have a lot of knowledge about the specific neurodevelopmental disorders, further evidence-based training would allow more effective support for children with neurodevelopmental disorders in the classroom but also equip professionals better and raise their confidence in meeting these children’s needs.