Preschool Teachers' Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be identified among preschool children who have certain characteristics and preschool teachers play a crucial role in identifying the characteristics of students with learning disabilities such as ASD. This study is carried out to achieve the objective of assessing the level of knowledge among preschool teachers regarding ASD. A quantitative approach was employed and involved a study sample of 153 preschool teachers in Hulu Langat district, Selangor. The sampling technique is simple random sampling. Data was collected through online surveys using Google Forms and offline surveys in printed form and was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) system. The research findings revealed that the level of knowledge among preschool teachers regarding ASD is relatively low. Issues may arise if preschool teachers lack sufficient knowledge about ASD, potentially hindering early ASD detection, classroom effectiveness, as well as diminishing confidence and preparedness in managing the behaviors of children with ASD. The implications of these research results recommend that organizational management should implement periodic training programs and workshops aimed at enhancing the knowledge of preschool teachers about ASD. In conclusion, preschool teachers should improve their knowledge about ASD in order to be more confident in educating and guiding ASD children, and this will lead to an improvement in the quality of ASD children’s lives.