Evidence on inclusive classrooms shows that successful implementation of inclusion can lead to increased social involvement, personal well-being and higher levels of academic performance compared with segregated provision. Despite these potential benefits inclusion of students with Asperger syndrome (AS) in the mainstream classroom is problematic. Support from teachers is a key strategy for accommodating students with AS diagnosis in the mainstream classroom. Less well is understood how teachers create an inclusive environment for these learners. Teachers’ social representations (SR), have a bearing on how they interact and accommodate, therefore the first aim of this dissertation was to explore teachers’ SR of students with AS. The second aim was to highlight the role of contextual factors and prior experience in forming SR. The third aim was to study the link between teachers’ individual practice and broader institutional forces by comparing the SRs among principals, school health professionals and teachers. The forth aim was to study what teacher factors predict teachers’ positive attitudes towards inclusion of students with AS. The findings show that a medical approach seems to dominate especially earlier trained teachers’ SRs; however, there is a tendency to view the environment increasingly important. Our results suggest that experience with students with AS is related to teachers' SR of these students. In addition, our data indicate that there is a need to bridge the gap between the organizational level, the classroom level and the individual student level in order to reduce barriers for students with AS to fit into an inclusive environment. Finally, positive attitudes towards inclusion of students with AS were found to relate to teachers’ knowledge of teaching students with AS and their attitudes towards students with AS. To conclude teachers’ SRs are deeply seated and the first step is to bring them to the forefront so that teachers are aware of them. In addition, there is a need for team building in the school arena to achieve a common vision for an inclusive school. / Forskning visar att inkluderande klassrumsundervisning kan leda till ökad social delaktighet, personligt välbefinnande och högre studieresultat jämfört med segregerande utbildning i speciella undervisningsgrupper. Trots dessa potentiella fördelar är inkludering av elever med Aspergers syndrom (AS) problematiskt. Lärarna spelar en viktig roll för att förverkliga inkludering och deras föreställningar om elever med AS är sannolikt knutna till om, och hur, dessa elever är inkluderade i klassrummet. Lärarnas sociala representationer (SR), har betydelse för hur de interagerar och anpassar undervisningen. Avhandlingens övergripande syfte var att bidra till ökad kunskap om lärares och övrig skolpersonals SR om en inkluderande skolundervisning för elever med AS. Det första syftet var att undersöka lärares SR om elever med AS. Det andra syftet var att utforska betydelsen av kontextuella faktorer och tidigare erfarenhet av AS. Det tredje syftet var att studera sambandet mellan lärares enskilda praktik och skolans organisation genom att jämföra rektorers, skolhälsopersonals och lärares SR om inkludering av elever med AS. Den fjärde studien syftade till att undersöka vilka faktorer som bidrar till en positiv attityd till inkludering av elever med AS hos lärare. Resultaten visar att ett medicinskt synsätt dominerar i synnerhet tidigare utbildade lärares SR av elever med AS. Emellertid tillskivs miljön en allt större betydelse. Resultaten visar att lärare är positiva till inkludering och att erfarenhet av elever med AS har ett samband med lärares SR av dessa elever. Dessutom tyder resultaten på att det finns ett behov av att överbrygga klyftan mellan den organisatoriska nivån, klassrumsnivån och individnivån för att gynna en inkluderande undervisning. Positiv attityd till inkludering av elever med AS visade sig relatera till lärares kunskaper om undervisning av elever med AS och deras SR om elever med AS. Sammanfattaningsvis konstateras att lärares SR är djupt rotade och ett första steg är att uppmärksamma dem. Dessutom finns ett behov av en bredare diskussion och teambuilding i skolarenan för att åstadkomma en gemensam vision för en inkluderande skola.

Autismo é um transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento caracterizado por uma díade de sintomas que inclui anormalidades na comunicação, interação social e padrões restritos de comportamentos e interesses, numa idade precoce. Na ausência de um marcador biológico para o transtorno do espectro autista, são exploradas definições cognitivo-comportamentais que expliquem esse quadro. Um modelo cognitivo recente sugere a teoria da empatia-sistematização que explica as dificuldades sociais e de comunicação no autismo em virtude de um atraso e deficit na empatia e explica as aptidões em virtude de uma habilidade intacta ou superior em sistematização. O teste de física intuitiva é um instrumento utilizado para avaliar sistematização. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar evidências de validade do teste em crianças brasileiras e verificar o desempenho de autistas de alto funcionamento neste teste e na bateria de provas de raciocínio. A análise da consistência interna do teste de física intuitiva revelou um coeficiente considerado insatisfatório. Entre os 330 participantes de escolas, observou-se diferença das pontuações estatisticamente significativa entre gêneros, com desempenho superior em meninos, assim como um incremento na pontuação conforme idade, série escolar e tipo de escola. Os participantes da escola particular apresentaram melhor desempenho. Já entre o grupo clínico (composto por 28 participantes com diagnóstico de autismo de alto funcionamento) e o grupo controle (composto por 28 estudantes de escola particular), observou-se melhor desempenho deste último no teste de física intuitiva, assim como na prova de raciocínio mecânico da Bateria de Provas de Raciocínio. As propriedades psicométricas do teste indicam baixo índice de precisão. O desempenho entre os participantes de escolas modificou-se de acordo com o desenvolvimento, resultado que pode refletir não apenas o desenvolvimento cognitivo da criança, mas também sua experiência diária e aprendizado escolar. Por outro lado, os pacientes com autismo de alto funcionamento não obtiveram melhor desempenho no teste, em relação ao grupo controle / Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms that includes deficits in social interaction, communication and narrow interests and repetitive stereotyped behavior, in an early age. In the absence of a biological marker of the autism spectrum disorders cognitive-behavioral definitions are necessary for these conditions. A recent cognitive model suggests the empathizing-systemizing theory that explains the social and communication difficulties in autism spectrum disorders by reference to delays and deficits in empathy, whilst explaining the areas of strength by reference to intact or even superior skill in systemizing. The intuitive physics test is an instrument developed to assess systemizing. The aim of this study is to analyze the evidences of validity of this test in Brazilian children and to measure the performance of high functioning autists in this test and the Battery of Reasoning Tests. The analysis of the internal consistency of the intuitive physics test disclosed an unsatisfactory coefficient. Among the 330 schoolchildren there was observed statistically significant difference between the scores of the two genders, with superior performance in boys, as well as an increment in scores in accordance with age, grade in school and type of school. The best performance occurred in the children of private school. Between the clinical group (composed of 28 high functioning autism individuals) and the control group (composed of 28 from private schoolchildren), the latter showed the best performance in the intuitive physics test as well as in the mechanical reasoning test. The psychometric properties of the test showed a low consistency index. The performance among school participants changed according to the development, which may reflect not only cognitive development but also their everyday experience and school education. Otherwise, the high functioning autists didn´t have better performance in the intuitive physics test when compared with the control group

A temporalidade é considerada, na perspectiva teórica deste estudo, como uma condição essencial do indivíduo no mundo, possibilitando a constituição de sentido do percebido e do vivido e evidenciando, ainda, a circunstância da qual partem todas as possíveis concepções de tempo. Além disso, o homem também é considerado em sua intencionalidade, na qual está dirigido para algo, ou seja, só pode haver mundo percebido e definido para o sujeito que pode percebê-lo, estando voltado para ele. A síndrome de Asperger (SA), um transtorno invasivo de desenvolvimento pertencente ao espectro autístico, caracteriza-se por seus portadores apresentarem um modo de interação extremamente peculiar, no qual é considerada a presença de prejuízos relacionados à simbolização, à comunicação e à socialização. Em uma vertente teórica psicossocial, esses aspectos têm sido compreendidos a partir da possibilidade de haver uma inabilidade inata na criança autista que compromete a atitude conativo-afetiva (relacionada à intencionalidade) fundamental no processo de desenvolvimento. Questões a respeito da rigidez na experiência da duração de períodos de tempo, das dificuldades para aceitação e compreensão da possibilidade de mudanças de fatos previstos e da aparente restrição de perspectiva temporal, independentemente do nível intelectual, têm sido evidenciadas na prática clínica com esta população. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho objetivou caracterizar a noção de tempo e a temporalidade em portadores da síndrome de Asperger. Sua constituição ocorreu em duas fases complementares e fundamentais. Na primeira, a partir de uma amostra de trinta indivíduos em cada grupo (grupo síndrome de Asperger e grupo de comparação) verificaram-se aspectos de noção de duração tempo através de instrumentos quantitativos e qualitativos. Na segunda fase a partir de uma amostra de quinze indivíduos em cada grupo (grupo síndrome de Asperger e grupo de comparação) investigaram-se, através de entrevista qualitativa, temas relacionados à temporalidade. Na descrição dos resultados pôde-se constatar uma temporalidade restrita evidenciada pela presença de prejuízos relacionados à continuidade no contato com o ambiente, à limitada perspectiva no sentido do devir e noção de tempo a partir de elementos espaciais, em detrimento dos aspectos subjetivos, restringindo o compartilhar do tempo comum e a formação de projetos de vida / Based on a theoretic-phenomenological perspective, temporality is defined as an essential condition of a person in view of the world. This condition is determinant to build what is perceived and experienced as well as makes evident the circumstances from which all possible conceptions of time emerge. In addition, the subject is also considered accordingly to his intentionality by which he is directed towards something. In other words, a defined and perceived world can only exist for a subject who, being directed towards it, can conceive that world through his senses and consciousness. The Asperger syndrome (AS), a pervasive developmental disorder belonging to the autistic spectrum, is characterized in individuals showing a very peculiar pattern of interaction, particularly displaying deficits of symbolization, communication and socialization. Under a psychosocial point of view, these aspects have been understood as an innate lack of affective-conative attitude impairing the development of autistic children. In clinical practice dealing with these children, professionals have been asking questions on their inflexibility in time span experience, on the difficulties in accepting and understanding changes and on the apparent restriction of the perspective in temporality independently of their intellectual levels. Temporality in Asperger syndrome was herein investigated aiming at its characterization. The study was constituted by two complementary and fundamental phases. In the first phase (N = 30 for the AS group; N = 30 for the comparison group) aspects of time notion were evaluated through quantitative and qualitative instruments. In the second phase (N = 15 for the AS group; N = 15 for the comparison group) matters related to temporality were investigated through a qualitative interview. The results have shown a restricted temporality evidenced by impairments related to the continuity of contact with the environment, by a limited perspective in the sense of becoming, and by a notion of time based on spatial elements, all in detriment of subjective aspects, thus restricting time sharing with people and elaboration of projects of life

Diagnoser är ett sätt för samhället att beskriva och gränssätta vad som är normalt och socialt accepterat. Diagnos är även en social konstruktion som oftast utifrån ett samhällsperspektiv har en negativ inverkan. Människor sätter etiketter på de med diagnosen och oftast är det i negativ bemärkelse och man accepterar inte det avvikande beteendet som diagnosen förklarar. Syftet med denna studie är att ta reda på hur vuxna med diagnos upplever för- och nackdelar med sin diagnos. Med den kvalitativa metoden har semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts. Tre personer har deltagit i studien och delat med sig om sina upplevelser kring deras neuropsykiatriska diagnoser. Alla tre har en ADHD-problematik, en har även diagnosen Asperger. Studiens resultat visar hur dessa upplever sina diagnoser och visar att de anser att det är bättre att få diagnosen än att leva i ovisshet av vad det är som gör att de beter sig på ett visst sätt. En av intervjupersonerna sa "Jag vet många som skäms över att de har det här och jag vet många som utnyttjar sin situation dessutom och det tycker jag inte om. För en diagnos är en diagnos. Det är en funktionsnedsättning men det handlar om vad du själv gör av den". / Diagnose is a way for society to describe and limit what is normal and socially acceptable. Diagnosis is also a social construction that often has a negative impact. People put labels on those with a diagnose and it is usually in a negative way and does not accept the deviant behavior that explains the diagnose. The purpose of this essay is to find out how adults with a diagnose experience benefits and cons of their diagnose. With the qualitative method has a semi-structured interviews been done. Three people have participated in the study and shared their experience about their neuropsychiatric diagnose. All three have a ADHD problem, one person have also been diagnose with Asperger. The result demonstrate how they feel about their diagnose and show that the belive it is better to be diagnose, than to live in uncertainty about what it is that make them behave in a certain way. One of the interviewed said "I know many who are ashamed that they have their diagnose and I also know who take advantage of their situation too, and that I don’t like. For a diagnose is a diagnose. It is a disability bit it’s about what you make of it"’

This study is based on a qualitative internet research about people with Asperger syndrome and their thoughts and opinions about the difficulties that occurs in the environment outside the home and their experiences of Internet. We have analyzed Internets social influences for those with Asperger syndrome, as a consequence of the difficulties that they meet in other environments. The constructed communities in the environment outside the home and the social interaction that occurs there is not adjusted for those with the diagnosis. This leads to difficulties to be there for those with Asperger syndrome. By doing a content analysis of the assembled data from a community site on the Internet, we found out that the environment on Internet is more comfortable for those with the diagnosis in several ways. A lot of people who earlier felt alone and excluded has thanks to the Internet been able to develop a healthy social life. / Den här uppsatsen grundar sig på en kvalitativ internetstudie om personer med Asperger syndroms tankar och åsikter om svårigheter som de möter i miljön utanför hemmet och erfarenheter av internet. Vi har analyserat hur internet har påverkat de med Asperger syndrom socialt, till följd av svårigheterna som de möter i andra miljöer. De konstruerade mötesplatserna i miljön utanför hemmet och den kommunikation som sker där är inte anpassad för de med diagnosen, vilket har lett till att de med Asperger syndrom har svårt att visats där. Genom att göra en innehållsanalys av material från ett diskussionsforum på internet, har vi kommit fram till att internets miljö tilltalar de med diagnosen på flera olika sätt. Flera personer som tidigare känt sig ensamma och utanför har tack vare internet kunnat utveckla en god livskvalitet.

Kunskap gällande barn och ungdomar som har olika funktionsnedsättningar är underutvecklad både i skolsituationen och i det sociala arbetet. Därmed är syftet med studien att studera hur kunskapsläget ser ut bland kuratorer respektive lärare som arbetar i särskilda klasser för elever som har Asperger syndrom. Vidare syftar studien till att granska vilka riktlinjer som finns uppsatta för kuratorer och lärare som möter ungdomar med särskilda behov samt hur ett professionellt bemötande beskrivs och tillämpas i praktiken. En kvalitativ metod har använts och studien omfattar sju intervjuer med kuratorer och lärare från två olika särskilda gymnasier. Resultatet visar att skolpersonalen lägger ett stort fokus på bemötandet av dessa elever och detta är en central del i det sociala arbetet med eleverna. För ett gynnsamt utfall hjälper inte enbart Skolverkets riktlinjer gällande hur arbetet med eleverna ska se ut. De båda verksamheterna har valt att utforma ytterligare riktlinjer för att skapa en god miljö där eleverna ska utvecklas och stärkas i sig själva. Detta arbetssätt går i linje med empowerment som tillsammans med stämplingsteorin har varit analysverktyg i studien. I diskussionen gällande vilka för- och nackdelar som finns med särskilda klasser för elever med Asperger syndrom kan ses att fördelarna väger tyngre än de nackdelar som råder. / The knowledge in children and adolescents who have various disabilities are under-developed both in school as well as in social work. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine how the state of knowledge appears among social workers and teachers working in special classes for students with Asperger syndrome. Furthermore, the study aims to examine the guidelines that are set for counselors and teachers who work with adolescents with special needs and how a professional approach is described and applied in practice. A qualitative method was used and the study includes seven interviews with counselors and teachers from two special schools. The result shows that school staff places a strong focus on treatment of these students and this is a central part in social work with adolescents. To achieve a favorable outcome for the students with Asperger syndrome not only the Agency's guidelines are helpful for work with these students. The two schools have therefor chosen to develop their own additional guidelines for creating a good environment in which students will be developed and strengthened in themselves. This approach is in line with empowerment along with labeling theory, and these two have been research tools in the study. The discussion shows that the advantages of special classes for students with Asperger syndrome outweigh the few disadvantages that exist.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyse the consequences of being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome during adulthood. My ambition was to investigate the participants’ perspective on how the diagnosis affected their lives and relationships with their partners. To answer the purpose three questions were formulated: (1) How did the participants experience being diagnosed with Asperger syndrome? (2) What have the diagnosis meant to the participants’ self-image and self understanding? (3) Have the diagnosis influenced the participants’ understanding of their partners and have the diagnosis influenced the partners’ understanding of the participants? The study is based on qualitative interviews with two men and two women living in Stockholm, Sweden. The theoretical framework is Symbolic interactionism and Goffmans Stigma concept. The results show that the participants found the diagnosis positive because it provided an explanation and understanding of the difficulties they had experienced. In extension, the majority of the participants experienced a more positive self-image and a better understanding between themselves and their partners. Negative experiences were reported as well, mainly chock, bitterness and grief.

Studiens syfte är att undersöka lek och samspel hos elever med diagnosen Asperger syndrom eller högfungerande autism genom att ta del av deras egna upplevelser av detta. Hur beskriver dessa elever sin lek under förskole- och skoltid? Hur beskriver de sitt samspel med andra? Vilka ställningstaganden gör eleverna för att delta eller icke delta i lekar? I litteraturgenomgången belyses olika begrepp och aspekter som är relevanta för studien såsom lekens betydelse för ett barns utveckling och lärande. Här presenteras också autismspektrumstörningar och vad dessa funktionshinder kan medföra för konsekvenser för barnet när det gäller lek och samspel. Svårigheter som gäller ömsesidig social interaktion, ömsesidig verbal och icke-verbal kommunikation samt fantasi och alla dessa områden är viktiga förutsättningar för lek och samspel. Den metodansats jag är inspirerad av är hermeneutiken. Metoden jag har använt är kvalitativ intervju och informanter är sju elever med diagnoserna Asperger syndrom och hög-fungerande autism i åldrarna 11-19 år, som alla går i specialanpassade verksamheter. Studiens resultat visar på mycket olika erfarenheter av lek och samspel. Vissa elever ger uttryck för ett avståndstagande och ett tydligt undvikande av gemensam lek, i samstämmighet med flera tidigare studier. Andra elever berättar om att de till viss del deltagit i interaktion med andra men samtidigt haft en önskan om ett större deltagande. Några elever ger uttryck för att ha deltagit mycket i olika former av låtsas-lek och älskat det.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:40:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Raphaela Schiassi Hernandes.pdf: 1356029 bytes, checksum: f738d912200dec3c76c1aa2eabeabce4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-03 / The current work, with focus on a study case of a bearer of Asperger Syndrome, aimed to verify the possibility to gather information from history and development of a patient with Asperger Syndrome, through the technique of analysis of activities from Dynamic Occupational Therapy Method associative trails. For that, it was fixed as specific goals: a) to verify whether it is possible to happen associations and some historical narrative of the patient s development, through the activities done by himself; b) to analyse whether the associative trails can be a tool for qualitative research on Occupational Therapy; c) to verify the possibility of applying the technique - associative trails as an intervention tool in medical clinic, with Asperger Syndrome patients. By using a technique of analysis of associative trails from Dynamic Occupational Therapy Method four meeting were held with the patient lasting one hour and a half each meeting. Activities were photographed to review them at the last meeting and guide the analysis of them as well. It was possible to use this tool to research the situation of the patient and collect data about: 1) situational diagnosis, 2) levels of interaction, 3) performance of activities and 4) establishment of procedure to assist in occupational therapy. The results showed that besides making associations for the analysis of activities, the patient also completed the narrative begun by the research. The associative trail tool allowed having a situational diagnosis of the patient, demonstrating how he was, facing the therapist and his own accomplished activities. It was also possible to evaluate that in this specific case the associative trail technique could be used to assist him. To be truly approved this work it must be applied this tool in more subject, which is really intended by the researcher in a broader research. / A presente pesquisa, com foco no estudo de caso de um sujeito com Síndrome de Asperger, teve por objetivo geral verificar a possibilidade de coletar informações da história e desenvolvimento de um paciente com Síndrome de Asperger, através da técnica de análise de atividade do Método Terapia Ocupacional Dinâmica trilhas associativas. Para tanto, estabeleceu-se como objetivos específicos: a) verificar se é possível acontecer associações e alguma narrativa histórica do desenvolvimento do paciente, por meio das atividades realizadas por esse; b) analisar se as trilhas associativas podem ser um instrumento para pesquisa qualitativa em terapia ocupacional; c) verificar a possibilidade de aplicação da técnica - trilhas associativas como instrumento de intervenção na clínica, com pacientes com Síndrome de Asperger. Utilizando a técnica de análise de atividades trilhas associativas do Método Terapia Ocupacional Dinâmica. foram realizados quatro encontros com o paciente, com duração de uma hora e meia cada encontro. As atividades foram fotografas para a possibilidade de revê-las no último encontro, bem como para guiar a análise dos mesmos. Foi possível usar esse instrumento para pesquisar a situação do paciente levantando-se dados sobre: 1) diagnóstico situacional, 2) níveis de interação, 3) realização de atividades e 4) estabelecimento de procedimentos para a assistência em terapia ocupacional. Os resultados apontaram que o paciente além de fazer associações durante a análise de atividades, completou a narrativa iniciada pela pesquisadora. O instrumento trilhas associativas permitiu realizar um diagnóstico situacional do paciente, demonstrando como se encontrava diante da pesquisadora e das suas atividades realizadas. Foi possível avaliar também que neste caso a técnica trilhas associativas pode ser utilizada para assistência. Para que este estudo possa ser definitivamente aprovado é necessário a aplicação do instrumento em mais sujeitos, o que é pretendido pela pesquisadora em uma pesquisa mais abrangente.