This diploma thesis deals with the topic of metaphorization of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their representation in common online media. The aim of the diploma thesis is to examine aspects of the relationship between metaphors and autism spectrum disorder. In terms of metaphor theory, it is based on cognitive linguistics and its approach to conceptual metaphor. The thesis lists the most common metaphors that are used in connection with autism spectrum disorders whereas the distinction between neurotypical and autistic metaphors is made. Then, it deals with medialization of autism spectrum disorders and presents possibilities of categorization of the way ASD is written about in common online media. Finally, the thesis discusses the overall problematics of metaphorization of autism spectrum disorders and possibilities of changes in the way they are represented.

This dissertation focuses on the development of autism in the Czech Republic from an historical-sociological perspective. The study pursues the structural processes related to autism and their impacts on individuals, as well as the roles of various agents in the shaping of these processes. The study utilises the social constructivist approach as well as the standpoints of the interpretative stream of sociology. The concept of autism was introduced in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. It was understood as a rare psychiatric disorder and was known about by only a few professionals. Until the beginning of the 1990s, autism wasn't recognised in Czechoslovak society. Since the beginning of the 1990s new processes have emerged, resulting in the formation of a paradigm of autism - a new dominant and increasingly recognized system of values, methods, approaches and institutions, all connected to the concept of autism. The category of autism was reconceptualized in the 1990s and has started to be used more widely in Czech society. Based on the concept of autism, new institutions have emerged, such as specialized educational approaches and services, therapeutic methods, social services and NGOs etc. Discourses of autism have also started to form. This paradigm has been crucial for the social history of autism...

Autismus-Spektrum-Störung (ASD) ist eine neurologische Entwicklungsstörung, die durch eine Reihe von Entwicklungsstörungen gekennzeichnet ist, die zu einem Mangel an sozialen, kommunikativen und kooperativen Fähigkeiten führen. Sozio-kommunikative Beeinträchtigungen können durch von Verhaltenstherapeuten konzipierte und durchgeführte Trainingsprogramme für soziale Kompetenzen verbessert werden. Computergestützte Therapien zur Lösung sozio-kommunikativer Schwierigkeiten bei Kindern, Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen mit ASD haben ermutigende Ergebnisse gezeigt. Das Serious-Game-Format ist eine Form der Intervention. Seriöse Spiele sind pädagogisch wertvoll, aber oft attraktiver als offensichtliche pädagogische Hilfsmittel. Zirkus Empathico 2.0 ist ein Serious Game für mehrere Spieler mit verschiedenen Levels und Bühnen in einer Zirkusumgebung. Die Auswertung erfolgte über einen Zeitraum von acht Wochen. Sechzig Kinder mit ASD im Alter von fünf bis elf Jahren wurden vor und nach der Behandlung untersucht. Zu den primären Ergebnissen gehörten die Empathiebewertung durch die Eltern und objektiv gemessene Fähigkeiten zur Emotionserkennung. Die Bewertung der Effektivität und Verwendbarkeit des Spiels für das Training sozialer Kompetenzen zeigte, dass es eine plausible Lernumgebung schuf, indem es das Bewusstsein der Studienteilnehmer für Fähigkeiten und neurotypisches Verhalten steigerte und ihre vorhergesagte Angst in zukünftigen sozialen Situationen verringerte. Nach der Behandlung wurden signifikante Behandlungseffekte festgestellt. Sowohl bei Kurz- als auch bei Langzeitbeurteilungen. Zirkus Empathico 2.0 ist erfolgreich bei der langfristigen Verbesserung der sozio-emotionalen Fähigkeiten in realen Situationen. Zukünftige Forschung sollte sich auf die spezifischen Prozesse konzentrieren, die den Übertragungs- und Aufrechterhaltungsvorteilen von Empathie und Emotionserkennung zugrunde liegen. / Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a spectrum of developmental abnormalities that result in a lack of social, communicative, and collaborative abilities. Socio-communicative impairments can be improved through behavioral therapist-designed and delivered social-skills training programs. Computer-based therapies to resolve socio-communicative difficulties in children, adolescents, and adults with ASD have demonstrated encouraging outcomes. The serious game format is one type of intervention. Serious games are educational but often appeal more than overt pedagogical tools. Zirkus Empathico 2.0 is a multi-player serious game set with various levels and stages in a circus environment. It was evaluated over eight weeks. Sixty children with ASD aged five to eleven years were evaluated before treatment and post-treatment. Primary outcomes included empathy rating by parents and objectively measured emotion recognition abilities. Secondary outcomes were assessed as emotional awareness, emotion management, well-being, and personal therapy goals. The assessment of the game's effectiveness and usability for social-skills training indicated that it established a plausible learning environment by boosting trial participants' awareness of abilities and neurotypical behavior and decreasing their predicted fear in future social situations. Following treatment, significant treatment effects were detected. In both short- and long-term assessments, moderate impacts were observed on emotional awareness, emotion management, and autistic social symptomatology. Parents reported that therapy goals were met, and that treatment was transferred well. Zirkus Empathico 2.0 is successful at improving long-term socio-emotional abilities in real-world situations. Future research should focus on the specific processes behind empathy and emotion recognition's transmission and maintenance benefits.

Anotation This thesis deals with autism spectrum disorders and social residential services, special homes. In the theoretical part, the basic information is about social services in Czech Republic. Another chapter is devoted to autism and its forms. The following chapter is devoted to workers in direct care and burnout syndrom, which are at risk. In the theoretical part I further develop the theme of problem behavior and subsequent restrictive measures that are working with people affected by autism sometimes unavoidable. In the practical part describes the day to day running of The Home Libčice, which is designed for stay of persons with autism associated with problem behavior. There is investigated the possible influence of stay in this facility for troubled client behavior. Key words: Aggressiveness Autism Burnout syndrom Homes with special regime Restriction

Title: Specifics of motor development in children with autism spectrum disorder Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to summarize the accessible literary sources about possibilities of early diagnostic of autism spectrum disorders, characteristic features of motor development and presence of movement and other abnormalities during early development in children who were later diagnosed with some disorder of autism spectrum. Methods: The study is divided into two main parts. In the first part, general information about autism spectrum disorders is presented. The ethiopatogenesis, characteristic features and different types of autism spectrum disorders are described. The second, descriptively analitical part, contains a brief description and resume of many studies, which deal with early identification of autism spectrum disorder, with examination of features of autism spectrum disorder in early development and motor abnormalities in individuals with autism spectrum disorder or high risk infants. Results: The results of this study indicate, that there are differences in social behaviour, motor development and specific autistic features already in the early development of children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Among motor abnormalities in early development in this children there are...

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of inclusion of children with autism in pre-school education. It describes the concept of autism and its specificities, which can be significantly manifested in the inclusion of children in joint education up to the age of six. It points to the potential pitfalls that can arise in education and training. It explains concepts related to autistic spectrum disorders and discusses in detail the triad of impairments and related issues based on expert opinions. The thesis also shows different approaches and proven procedures for working with children with autism not only in kindergarten, but also for practice in the family. It describes different cognitive styles and other specifics that may arise in connection with autistic spectrum disorders and have a major impact on the child and his surroundings. It also includes personal examples from practice that illustrate the complexity and diversity of working with children with autistic spectrum disorder in kindergarten. In the second part of this work a case study is described, which can also serve as an example of good practice. It describes the class attended by two boys with autism. Part of the case study and a description of the climate detection program in the classroom designed for preschool children. This is...

The thesis Inclusion of Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder at Primary School focuses on the inclusion of pupils with autism spectrum disorders and on how to work with them at primary school. The first chapter of the theoretical part describes the inclusion and its legislative framework. This chapter shows an overview of the support and counselling system in school education. The following chapters are devoted to the description of autism, its types and diagnostics of pupils with autistic spectrum disorders. The final theoretical part pays attention to devoted to educational methods and strategies for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders. It describes how to communicate with such pupils and what didactic systems can be used when working with them. The empirical part of the thesis describes the development of application for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder and its verification for the android mobile platform. The author of this thesis has developed the application mentioned above. This chapter describes both the design and the technical development of the application. The application is validated by using the research method of a controlled interview with parents and pupils where the application was tested for two months and these interviews are subsequently evaluated. The end of the...

The questionnaire DACH was created within the pilot survey of the dissertation project of PhDr. Kateřina Thorová, Ph.D. Since it was put into practice, the questionnaire has become a relatively common tool used in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The theoretical section of my dissertation introduces the reader to the wider context of Autism Spectrum Disorders - from ethiology to treatment (therapy). The empirical section then focuses on editing, validation and standardization of the DACH questionnaire created by Thorová. Empirical testing of the DACH was conducted on a sample of 240 people. Statistical analysis of the collected data demonstrated a relatively high level of reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the method, along with a high predictive value of positive results. The correlation between the questionnaire results and the results of the diagnostic assessment with the use of the methods of the "golden standard" for autism was lower, but can be considered as satisfactory. The main goal of my dissertation is to develop a standardized Czech method for screening early symptoms of autism in children. For wider access of the practical applications of this project, an electronic version of the DACH questionnaire is available, including scoring and general recommendations. The...

The topic of the thesis is the Nursing Care Particularities in Children Admitted to Hospital with Autism. In the theoretical part is found the description of autism causes, clinical manifestation, diagnostics, basic therapeutic measures and nursing care in such children. The thesis has set three goals: Goal 1- finding out problems concerning the hospital admittance of an autistic child. Goal 2- determining the specific features of nursing care in children with autism. Goal 3- creating an informative brochure that would help nurses to gain basic information necessary to provide expert nursing care to autistic children. To gain these goals, a method of qualitative research and the technique of standardized interviews were used. In the frame of the research, two research samples were used. The first one consisted of nurses who work in children´s psychiatric wards and children´s neurologic wards. These nurses were chosen deliberately as they care about autistic children regularly and have a lot of experience in this branch. Altogether ten interviews were conducted and were recorded on the record keeping sheet and consequently processed. The other research sample were mothers of children in whom autism was diagnosed and who experienced hospital admittance either as a diagnostic stay or in connection with acute treatment. Also here ten interviews were conducted. After the completion of qualitative research answers to the set research questions were gained: Research question 1 finds out what are the specific features of nursing care in children with autism. On the basis of the research, it was concluded that nursing care in autistic children has some specific features such as communication, observing rituals, the necessity of a parent´s company, as well as the psychical burden both of children and staff. Research question 2 focused on finding what problems are connected with the hospital admittance of an autistic child. On the basis of the conducted interviews, it was concluded that the biggest problems concerning hospital admittance apply to children´s aggressivity, difficult adaptability to environment changes and problems that occur after the experienced admittance. Further on, it was concluded that also children´s individuality is a serious problem that has to be taken into consideration during nursing care. Research question 3 found out how nurses assess parent´s presence during the admittance of autistic children. All nurses perceive the parent´s presence highly positively. They see the most benefits in passing important information to nurses, accompanying the child during the whole period of admittance, helping with the adaptation to a new environment, providing the common daily care including spending free time and giving the child the feeling of safety and assurance. Research question 4 deals with nurses´ feelings when nursing autistic children. The provided information is individual. The research has found that nurses feel well, do not see problems and the work is routine for them. Negative feelings are influenced by circumstances concerning mood, tiredness or demanding communication with parents. Further, it was concluded that nurses feel insecurity in the period when they start working with autistic children or during the first contact with the child. With regard to high disorder prevalence in the population, it is essential for nurses to know basic information concerning autism and adopt the basis of nursing care in children with this disability type. In this connection, an information material was created that has to help nurses to acquire basic information necessary to provide expert care to autistic children.

The thesis focuses on educational methods and principles of those working with children with autistic spectrum disorders. The theoretical part describes the typical symptoms of autism, reasons for development of autism. Also, It covers the conditions of inclusive education and the influence of children's free/quality time on their educational process. The empirical part describes the specifics of the work of special educators and peda?gogických staff working with children with autism spectrum disorder after-school club. The research joined seven respondents from primary/secondary schools in Prague. The aim of this part is to set particulars for educators working with children with autistic spectrum disorders. The research can be determined that the communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorder, require the teacher to preserve a coherent communication style with the principle of structuring communication. Social behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders is distorted. Based on respondents' answers the need for the teacher in the educational process, enable the child to integrate into a group of their peers. Recreation and leisure activities include the development of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder. The principle of voluntary and elective underpins formal and informal education of children.