The prevalence of autism in the United States is 1 in 68 children. African American children are less likely to receive advance testing to confirm the diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome (AS) compared to other ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to determine if demographic factors (parental education level, family annual income, marital status of custodial parent(s), parent ethnicity, number of children in home, other children with disability, family location, mother age at time of birth, gender of child, birth status of child, adoption status and age, child order, and other disability) have any predictive relationship to AS diagnosis among African American children in the Washington Metropolitan area. A quantitative correlational study of a cross-sectional nature was conducted using a survey to collect data from parents of children age 3-16 (n= 187) who may or may not have a confirmed autism diagnosis. Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory provided an understanding of how environmental factors may be related to a diagnosis of AS. Chi-square analyses were conducted and statistically significant higher frequencies of diagnosis were found in parents with no other child with a disability, later born children, and parents who have been married. Logistic regressions analysis resulted in parental marital status being found to be a statistically significant predictor of a child having an official AS diagnosis. There is a critical need to train health care professionals working in underserved communities where minority groups may reside about AS. Results from this study may provide information to develop policies, community-based services, and programs that ensure that children can receive an accurate AS diagnosis regardless of factors such as race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Abstract Background: There is wide variability in the phenotypic manifestation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recognizing autistic traits behind socio-emotional and adaptive problems in children with normal cognitive level can therefore be challenging. Aims and methods: The purpose of this study was to find tools for recognition of autism traits for clinicians working in primary/secondary settings. Two internationally used and empirically valid quantitative screeners, the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), were translated into Finnish and evaluated among high-functioning elementary school-aged children. An epidemiological target population of 8-year-old children (N=4,408) including 28 children with ASD was rated by parents and teachers using the ASSQ in order to assess cut-off scores for the Finnish ASSQ, and sensory abnormalities (SA) were determined in order to estimate the prevalence of SAs, and to investigate associations between sensory-perceptual problems and quantitative autism traits (QAT). The SRS was evaluated in a clinical ASD case (N=44)-control (N=44) study. It was also studied whether QAT of family members were associated with child QAT using the SRS. Results: Collecting parent and teacher ASSQ ratings and a cut-off of summed 30 points are recommended for ASD diagnostic assessments. The Finnish SRS was able to differentiate children with ASD from a normative child sample. The prevalence of SAs was 8% in the general population and 54% in the ASD sample. Tactile, auditory and olfactory hypersensitivities were associated with an elevated risk for an ASD diagnosis and auditory hypersensitivity explained the variance in the ASSQ scores among the ASD sample. In the normative sample, mother-child SRS QAT were more strongly associated, whereas in the ASD sample, a stronger positive correlation was found between father and child SRS QAT. Conclusions: In ASSQ screening, it is essential to collect both parent and teacher assessments. The SRS offers valuable information for determining the focal points of rehabilitation and evaluating treatment outcome. The SAs of the child as well as high QAT levels of male family members are indicators of an elevated risk for ASD. / Tiivistelmä Tausta: Autismikirjon häiriön kliininen oirekuva vaihtelee henkilöstä toiseen. Tästä johtuen autististen piirteiden tunnistaminen lapsen sosioemotionaalisten ja sopeutumisvaikeuksien taustalta voi olla haasteellista. Tavoitteet ja menetelmät: Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli etsiä kognitiivisesti hyvätasoisten peruskouluikäisten parissa työskenteleville kliinikoille apukeinoja autististen piirteiden tunnistamiseen. Kaksi kansainvälisesti käytettyä seulontamittaria, Autismikirjon seulontalomake (ASSQ) ja Sosiaalisen vastavuoroisuuden arviointiasteikko (SRS), käännettiin suomeksi ja niiden psykometrisiä ominaisuuksia arvioitiin. Lisäksi tutkittiin, olivatko aistipoikkeavuudet tai vanhempien autistismipiirteisyys yhteydessä peruskouluikäisen lapsen autismipiirteisyyteen. Vanhemmat ja opettaja täyttivät ASSQ:n 8-vuotiaista epidemiologisen kohderyhmän lapsista (N=4408), joista 28:lla oli autismikirjon häiriö, ja kohderyhmän lasten aistipoikkeavuudet kartoitettiin. ASSQ:n seulontarajat sekä aistipoikkeavuuksien esiintyvyys ja yhteys autismipiirteisyyteen määritettiin. SRS evaluoitiin ja perheen sisäisen autismipiirteisyyden vertailu tehtiin kliinisessä autismikirjo (N=44)-verrokki (N=44)-aineistossa. Tulokset: Vanhempien ja opettajan ASSQ-arviointien yhteenlaskettu pistemäärä 30 oli parhaiten toimiva seulontaraja autismikirjon häiriön diagnostisia tutkimuksia varten. SRS erotteli autismikirjon lapset normiaineistosta. Aistipoikkeavuuksien esiintyvyys kokonaisväestössä oli 8 % ja autismikirjon lapsilla 54 %. Tunto-, kuulo- ja hajuyliherkkyys olivat yhteydessä kohonneeseen autismikirjon häiriön riskiin ja kuuloyliherkkyys selitti autismipiirteisyyden vaihtelua autismikirjon lapsilla. Normiaineistossa lapsen ja äidin autismipiirteisyys olivat vahvemmin yhteydessä toisiinsa, kun taas autismikirjon lasten perheissä lapsen ja isän autismipiirteisyys olivat vahvemmin yhteydessä toisiinsa. Päätelmät: ASSQ-arvioinnissa on ensiarvoisen tärkeää kerätä tietoa lapsen käyttäytymisestä sekä koti- että kouluympäristöstä. SRS on käyttökelpoinen määriteltäessä kuntoutuksen painopistealueita ja kartoitettaessa sen vaikuttavuutta. Lapsen aistipoikkeavuudet sekä hänen miespuolisten perheenjäsentensä vahva autismipiirteisyys viittaavat autismikirjon häiriön mahdollisuuteen.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects all ethnic groups and is twice as frequent among boys than girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD. Despite guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and clinical evidence that suggests that ASD can be diagnosed as early as 24 months of age, most diagnoses occur at age 4 or even later, resulting in fewer opportunities for children to receive early ASD treatment and help them reach the best outcome possible. There is limited information about the appropriate referral practices adopted by pediatricians, the accuracy of ASD testing tools, and ASD studies conducted among the Latino children. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between age of diagnosis and the screening/referral practices of doctors. Data from the 2011 Pathways Survey (N = 134) were analyzed with bivariate and multivariate statistics, including chi-square with cross-tabulation and multinomial logistic regression. No statistically significant associations were found among the dependent variable “age when the parent was told by a doctor that child had ASD,” and the independent variables “pediatrician conducted screening” (p > 0.05), “pediatrician conducted screening after parent had a developmental concern” (p > 0.05), and “doctor referred the child to a specialist after parent had a developmental concern” (p > 0.05). The results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size of Hispanic children with ASD diagnoses in the dataset. Additional studies are needed that can measure pediatrician screening patterns among the Hispanic/Latino children, thereby producing positive changes that can decrease associated morbidity and mortality among this population.

Activation of the maternal immune system and resultant maternal cytokine expression due to prenatal infection has been implicated as a significant contributor to the pathology of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Increased maternal interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression, observed clinically and in animal models of prenatal infection, and resultant activation of key signaling pathways, has been shown to be a biological indicator of pathology, and a central component of the pathological mechanism. In animal models of prenatal infection and clinically in pregnancy disorders hallmarked by immunological irregularities and increased IL-6 expression, inhibition of IL-6 has been shown to reduce pathological symptoms both maternally and in the exposed offspring. This study aims to demonstrate the ability of IL-6 expression, resulting from prenatal infection, to induce neuropathological and behavioral outcomes that mirror clinical observations seen in disorders such as ASD. More importantly, it shows how flavones luteolin and diosmin, a subclass of the flavonoid family, through inhibition of IL-6 mediated activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3 (Stat3) can reduce these pathologies both in vitro and in vivo. Evidence suggests that flavonoids, a polyphenolic class of naturally occurring plant secondary metabolites, are potent anti-inflammatory agents that can attenuate the expression of cytokines such as IL-6, possibly through the modulation of tyrosine kinase activity. They have been shown to have significant therapeutic potential in disorders hallmarked by increased inflammation or disruptions in immune regulation, such as neurodegenerative disorders and certain cancers. Members such as diosmin have also been shown to be safe during pregnancy, and are currently utilized in the treatment of certain vascular disorders associated with pregnancy. In vitro work undertaken in this study showed that co-administration of luteolin with IL-6 in neural stem cells (NSC) was able to attenuate pathological outcomes induced by IL-6 including aberrant proliferation, over expression of astroglial marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and changes in cellular morphology. In vivo studies involving luteolin and diosmin further confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of these compounds as similar attenuation of IL-6 mediated maternal and fetal pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and abnormal behaviors in prenatally exposed offspring was observed. Mechanistically, these effects were mediated through inhibition of Stat3 activation although other pathways activated by IL-6 were modulated by flavone co-treatment. Flavonoid treatment during periods of prenatal infection may prove to be a therapeutic intervention for the resultant pathological outcomes seen in offspring through attenuation of the maternal and fetal immune response to infection as well as modulation of signaling pathways in the fetal brain. These compounds may prove therapeutically efficacious for the application in perinatal conditions hallmarked by increased inflammation during pregnancy.

The present study evaluated the use of a self-instructional manual supported by a computer-aided personalized system of instruction (CAPSI) for teaching Discrete-Trials Teaching (DTT) to university students. Prior to studying the manual, five participants taught three tasks, commonly taught to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), to a confederate role-playing a child with an ASD. Using the Discrete-Trials Teaching Evaluation Form (DTTEF), the main researcher assessed the participants’ ability to perform DTT accurately. Subsequently, participants studied a self-instructional manual using CAPSI to demonstrate mastery of study questions about DTT. Finally, participants once again attempted to teach the three tasks to a confederate role-playing a child with an ASD. Overall mean baseline accuracy on the DTTEF was 54.86%, and improved to 84.73% in post-treatment, a 30% improvement. Participants’ self-recorded study time was an average of 12 hours and 48 minutes. The results suggest that CAPSI is an effective educational tool for the delivery of the self-instructional manual. Future research should investigate (1) how to make CAPSI even more effective, and (2) whether these results can be generalized to other populations such as ABA tutors, parents, and paraprofessionals working with children with ASD.

Autismspektrumtillstånd kännetecknas av kärnsymtomen stereotypa, repetitiva beteenden samt nedsatt förmåga att kunna hantera sociala relationer. Diagnostisering försvåras dock av att inga biomarkörer finns tillgängliga än. Forskning pågår för att få klarhet i patofysiologiska mekanismer, där funna defekta gener ger en bild av ökade svårigheter för nervcellen att reglera signaler efter behov. Behandling som riktar sig mot kärnsymtomen vid autismspektrumtillstånd finns ej, men forskning pågår för att hitta lämpliga läkemedel. Syftet med detta arbete var att sammanställa senaste forskningen inom detta område, via sökning efter dubbelblinda randomiserade kontrollerade studier, för att utvärdera om något läkemedel kommer finnas på marknaden inom en snar framtid. Studier med D-vitamin, bumetanid (diuretikum), suramin (antipurinergt), memantin ”extended release” (mot Alzheimers sjukdom), metylerad vitamin B12 och celecoxib (anti-inflammatoriskt) som adjuvans till risperidon (neuroleptikum) utvärderades för effekten på kärnsymtom vid autismspektrumtillstånd. Bumetanid, som är ett loop-diuretikum, var det läkemedel som kommit längre än övriga. Om även fas 3 ger positiva resultat så finns möjligheten att detta kan släppas på europeiska marknaden om några år för behandling av kärnsymtom vid autismspektrumtillstånd. Övriga substanser var i ett mycket tidigt utvecklingsstadium. / Autism spectrum disorder is characterised by the core symptoms stereotypic, repetitive behaviors and impaired ability to handle social relationships. Diagnostics, however, is complicated by the fact that no biomarkers are available yet, i.e. one cannot take a blood test to decide if the individual can be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Research, however, is ongoing in this field hopefully also leading to markers that can be used when evaluating degree of severity during clinical research where potential pharmaceuticals are evaluated in humans. Research is ongoing to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms. Identified clusters of defective genes suggest increased difficulties of nerve cells to regulate signals as needed. For example, excitation or inhibition of nerve cells can be enhanced. Treatment aimed at the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder is not available, but research is ongoing to find suitable drugs. The purpose of this work was to compile the latest research in this area through a search for doubleblinded randomized controlled studies to evaluate whether any drug will be available on the market in the near future. Studies with vitamin D, bumetanide (diuretic), suramin (antipurinergic), memantine “extended release” formulation (Alzheimer’s disease drug), methylated vitamin B12 and celecoxib (anti-inflammatory) as adjuvant to risperidone (neuroleptic) were evaluated for the effect on core symptoms in autism spectrum disorder. Bumetanide, which is a loop-diuretic, is the drug that has come further than the rest. If the continued development of this drug also gives positive results, there is the possibility that this drug can be released on the European market in a few years, for treatment of core symtoms. The other substances evaluated were at a very early stage of development. Some of these, however, can be of extra interest. For example D‑vitamin which can have some potential effect. Also it gives minimal side effects.

[pt] O Autismo é um transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento caracterizado por prejuízos na interação social, na comunicação e no comportamento. Um dos deficit apresentados em seu escopo é no reconhecimento de emoções, apontando para uma série de estratégias de visualização atípicas, tais como: olhar reduzido para estímulos sociais; preferência para a região da boca em vez dos olhos e dificuldades em fixar a atenção. Todavia, não existe um consenso, até o momento, sobre os fatores que podem acarretar tais prejuízos, bem como se existe um padrão característico do rastreio viso espacial para essa população. Com base nesses dados, que a presente dissertação desenvolveu um paradigma de rastreio visual no reconhecimento de emoções em crianças do Espectro Autista (EA). Para tanto, foi necessária uma revisão sistemática, que a partir de uma seleção criteriosa, verificou 65 paradigmas investigados na avaliação do Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) que utilizaram o Eye-tracker como instrumento. A partir de então foi desenvolvido um roteiro para a posterior programação das tarefas. O paradigma de rastreio foi, então, aplicado em quatro crianças diagnosticadas com TEA, que compunham o grupo experimental e em três com desenvolvimento típico para controle, com a finalidade de avaliar a sua aplicabilidade. E embora existam limitações na tarefa que precisam passar por adaptações, foi possível verificar que os participantes do grupo experimental tiveram a duração da tarefa ampliada em decorrência de uma dificuldade na fixação do olhar, bem como tiveram o desempenho prejudicado no reconhecimento das emoções. Esses dados, junto a outros estudos, sugerem que os indivíduos do espectro autista utilizam estratégias visuais atípicas. Entretanto mais pesquisas são necessárias sobre o assunto. / [en] Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and behavior. One of the deficits presented in its scope is the emotions recognition, pointing to a number of atypical visualization strategies, such as: reduced look at social stimuli; preference for the mouth instead of the eyes region, and difficulties in fixing attention. However, there is no consensus so far on the factors that can lead to such damages, as well as whether there is a characteristic pattern of visuospatial screening for that population. Based on these data, this dissertation developed a visual tracking paradigm in the recognition of emotions in children of the Autistic Spectrum (EA). Therefore, a system-atic review was necessary, which, based on a careful selection, verified 65 paradigms investigated in the evaluation of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and that used the Eye-tracker as instrument. From then on, a script was developed for later tasks programming. The screening paradigm was then applied in four children diagnosed with ASD, who composed the experimental group, and in three with typical development, to control, to evaluate its applicability. Although there are limitations in the task, that must undergo adaptations, it was possible to verify that the participants of the experimental group had a longer duration of the task, due to it s difficulty in fixing the look, as well as they had the performance impaired in the emotions recognition. These data, along with other studies, suggest that individuals on the autistic spectrum use atypical visual strategies. However more research is needed on the subject.

O Transtorno do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) compõe um universo amplo e complexo com dificuldades relacionadas às áreas do comportamento, da interação social e da comunicação. A falta de um marcador biológico exige que o diagnóstico aconteça por meio da observação clínica e, na maioria dos casos, se compõe como um desafio aos/às profissionais responsáveis em fazê-lo. As abordagens de atendimento mais comuns são: Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) e Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), baseadas em teorias behavioristas. Estes programas estão relacionados ao desenvolvimento de rotina, de habilidades para uso cotidiano e de estratégias de comunicação. No contexto da família, o transtorno exige uma reorganização e um planejamento baseado em torno do cuidado da pessoa com TEA. Frente a esta realidade a discussão da dignidade humana se compõe como uma reflexão necessária e, principalmente, relacionada aos direitos humanos, que se constitua como concreta. Assim sendo, a constituição da dignidade humana como imago Dei se estabelece na relação do ser humano com o Criador, com o humano e com o todo da criação. Também no âmbito dos direitos humanos, construídos historicamente, é possível discutir a dignidade humana enquanto processo constitutivo do ser humano através da convivência, da alteridade, do reconhecimento e da participação que pretende a visibilidade das pessoas em suas características específicas. Esta forma de entender a dignidade humana procura situá-la para além de um adereço e que de fato contribua para que se avance em práticas de políticas públicas. Desta maneira torna-se possível que os direitos relacionados ao atendimento socioeducacional às pessoas com TEA se transformem em ações reais. Destarte, compreendendo a análise do conteúdo das entrevistas realizadas com os/as familiares de pessoas com TEA, fica evidente que questões como atendimento socioeducacional adequado, profissionais dispostos/as ao cuidado e capacitados/as, e políticas públicas efetivas, se constituem como elementos imprescindíveis apontados pelos/as familiares para o desenvolvimento cotidiano da pessoa com TEA. / Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) makes up a broad and complex universe with difficulties related to the areas of behavior, of social interaction and of communication. The lack of a biological marker demands that the diagnostic take place through clinical observation and, in most cases, it presents a challenge to the professionals responsible for making the diagnosis. The most common treatment approaches are: Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), based on behaviorist theories. These programs are related to the development of routines, of skills for daily use and of communication strategies. In the context of the family, the disorder demands a reorganization and planning around the care of the person with ASD. Confronted with this reality the discussion of human dignity is set as a necessary reflection and mainly related to human rights which are constituted as concrete. Thus, the constitution of human dignity as imago Dei is established in the relation of the human being with the Creator, with the human and with all of creation. In the area of human rights, historically constituted, it is also possible to discuss human dignity as a constitutive process of the human being through communal interaction, through otherness, through recognition and participation which aims at the visibility of the people in their specific characteristics. This form of understanding human dignity seeks to situate it beyond a mere prop and aims at truly contributing to the advancement of practices in public policies. In this way it becomes possible for the rights related to the socio-educational treatment of persons with ASD to be transformed into real actions. Thus, understanding the analysis of the content of the interviews carried out with family members of persons with ASD, it becomes evident that issues such as: adequate socioeducational treatment; capacitated and willing professionals for care; and effective public policies constitute essential elements pointed out by the family members for the daily development of the person with ASD.

Introdução: Eventos traumáticos em nossa sociedade, a gravidade dos quadros psicopatológicos que podem advir desses eventos e a dificuldade terapêutica que podem significar levam à necessidade de embasar solidamente as medidas terapêuticas e de prevenção nas características individuais das vítimas de trauma, sendo o Transtorno de Estresse Pós- Traumático (TEPT) o principal transtorno psiquiátrico associado aos acidentes e a violência. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da psicoterapia ultra-breve psicodinamicamente orientada no TEPT e TEA. Método: A amostra foi composta por 27 mulheres que foram atendidas no período de maio de 2008 e novembro de 2009 que completaram pelo menos quatro semanas de tratamento no Núcleo de Estudos e Tratamento do Trauma Psíquico (NET-TRAUMA) do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Brasil. 85,2%(23) das pacientes preencheram os critérios para TEPT e 14,8%(4) tinham TEA . As pacientes foram avaliadas antes e após intervenção psicoterápica através das escalas: Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Inventário Beck de Depressão (BECK), Defense Style Questionaire (DSQ-40), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) Impressão Clínica Global (CGI) e Avaliação Global do Funcionamento (GAF). Resultados: Após tratamento houve melhora na sintomatologia das escalas DTS, BECK, CGI E GAF, mesmo controlando para uso de psicofármacos. Com tamanho de efeito elevado na comparação entre as escala no pré e pós-tratamento: CGI d=1,18, GAF d= 1,03, DTS d=0,95 e BDI d=0,9. Houve uma redução da defesa de projeção (p=0,036) e um aumento na defesa humor (p=0,024). Encontramos uma associação positiva entre a diminuição de sintomas de TEPT e a diminuição no escore do fator imaturo (p=0,032 r=0,43). Conclusões: A psicoterapia ultra-breve psicodinamicamente orientada mostrou-se eficaz para o tratamento do TEPT e TEA. Houve melhora na sintomatologia das escalas DTS, BECK, CGI E GAF, mesmo controlando para uso de psicofármacos. / Introduction: Traumatic events in our society, the severity of psychopathology that may result from such events and therapeutic difficulty may mean that lead to the necessity of basing solidly therapeutic measures of prevention and individual characteristics of victims of trauma, the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the main psychiatric disorders associated with accidents and violence. Objective: To evaluate the effects of psychotherapy ultra-brief psychodynamically oriented PTSD and ASD. Method: The sample consisted of 27 women who were treated between May 2008 and November 2009 who completed at least four weeks of treatment in the Center for Research and Treatment of Psychic Trauma (NET-TRAUMA), Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre ( HCPA), Brazil. 85.2% (23) of patients met criteria for PTSD and 14.8% (4) had ASD. Scales used were: Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Beck Depression Inventory (BECK), Defense Style Questionaire (DSQ-40), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Results: After treatment there was improvement in symptoms scales DTS, BECK, CGI and GAF, even controlling for use of psychoactive drugs. With such a large effect on the comparison between the scale before and after treatment: d = 1.18 CGI, GAF d = 1.03, d = 0.95 DTS and BDI d = 0.9. There was a reduction in the defense of projection (p = 0.036) and an increase in defense humor (p = 0.024). We found a positive association between the reduction of PTSD symptoms and reduction in score of the immature factor (p = 0.032 r = 0.43). Conclusions: The ultra-brief psychotherapy psychodynamically oriented proved effective for the treatment of PTSD and ASD. There was improvement in symptoms scales DTS, BECK, CGI and GAF, even controlling for use of pharmacological drugs.

The thesis addresses ethical aspects of upbringing and educating persons with autism spectrum disorders, focusing particularly on integrating them in a normal school. In the theoretical part the terms related to ASD issues are defined and specific behavior and expressions of children with autism and Asperger?s syndrome are described. This thesis is dedicated particularly to these individuals and to their integration to a normal school. Therefore this part of the thesis deals with the field of education and upbringing of these persons and it describes the educational principles, methods and strategies that are being used in this field. The thesis concentrates on ethical aspects of leading persons with autism spectrum disorder and therefore the theoretical part deals also with ethical aspects of education and upbringing and defines terms related to ethics. There are two case studies in the practical part of the thesis that show the problems and ethical dilemmas related to integrating pupils with ASD into a regular high school from the point of view of a teaching assistant. The thesis emphasizes the need for ethical education and ethical code in the education system that would guarantee that persons with ASD are led not only professionally, but also ethically.