Despite of the growing body of multidisciplinary literature dealing with autism, encounters with a reality on the spectrum remains an under researched area. During my two years long fieldwork I discovered the controversial nature of being on the spectrum. To be on the spectrum is at the same time similar and different from the kind of situations in which any human being is entangled. This diploma thesis follows the process of formation of being on the spectrum situated in specific "playful" environment. It focuses on heterogeneous interactions among human and nonhuman agents. It follows multiple (a)symmetries that emerge in this process. The aim of the thesis is to introduce the reality on the spectrum in an innovative and processually situated way and making it a leverage of exploring the nature of the social. The ethnographic research took place in four "playrooms" and mapped the material practices of the alternative therapy Son-Rise. Through mirroring, the main therapeutic practice, boundaries of similarity/otherness where the other is emerging as an autist subject are continuously negotiated, generated and blurred. Becoming similar comprises of multiple practices, including assuming other (autistic) sensitivity and inventing similar (body) competencies. In addition, the diploma thesis discusses...

The thesis deals with the theory of metaphor in selected pieces of research that focus on autism spectrum disorders. Patients with autism spectrum disorders show weakened ability to communicate and they have trouble understanding everyday social interactions as they are not able to identify with thoughts and feelings of others. They also have trouble understanding metaphors, irony, hyperbolical speech, etc. In their book Metaphors we live by Lakoff and Johnson claim that our language and our thinking are based on metaphors, i.e. on abstraction. The hypothesis is that various pieces of research focusing on how people on the autism spectrum understand metaphors draw on different definitions of metaphor and different approaches to it. The theory of metaphor that is presented in Lakoff's and Johnson's work should be able to provide theoretical framework for coherent understanding of a metaphor. It should also have the potential to point out the differences between particular pieces of research and possible shortages within them.

This diploma thesis focuses on the teaching of foreign languages, specifically the French language of pupils and students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Primary and Secondary schools in the Czech Republic. The aim of the thesis is to present general recommendations for work with pupils and students with ASD, suitable forms of lesson planning, possible complications and optimal form of cooperation with an assistant teacher. It focuses on description and definition of autism spectrum disorders, especially Asperger syndrome. A significant part is devoted to typical manifestations during adolescence and resolving challenging situations that may occur in education in connection with these disorders. The following part is devoted to communication and difficulties, which manifests in pupils with ASD mainly during social interaction. The practical part of the thesis examines current training of foreign language teachers, their readiness to work with pupils with ASD and analyzes teachers 'experience and methods of work with a focus on perception of differences in approach. A qualitative questionnaire survey was used as a research method. When selecting respondents, the main criterion was the experience with foreign language teaching of a pupil with ASD in secondary school. The questions were chosen...

To better understand the difficulties and strengths associated with both high and low functioning individuals with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), the hyper-systemising theory has been proposed by Baron-Cohen and colleagues. It explains the social and communication difficulties in autism and Asperger syndrome (AS) by reference to delays and deficits in empathy, whilst explaining the areas of strength by reference to intact or even superior skill in systemising (Baron-Cohen, 2002). The evidence for hypersystemising alongside hypo-empathising in autism, suggests a corresponding desire to systemise the social world. Based on this theory, the use of technology in supporting the development of social and communication skills in children with an ASD is discussed. Technology and computers rely on strict, predictable systems made up of sets of rules that can be programmed, determined and understood. Use of such technology to assist in the development of social skills in an individual with an ASD utilises an existing area of strength and engages a person in an often existing area of interest and/or obsession. This thesis describes an exploratory study using non-humanoid robots with a group of young people with either high-functioning autism (HFA) or AS, which aimed to use robots as a focus of shared attention in a more naturally occurring and systemisable environment; thus promoting more implicit learning of social skills for this clinical group. Ten children attended the ‘robot club’ for eight sessions enabling a design using a series of single case studies pooled together for multiple and individual base line comparisons. The results indicate improvements as rated by parents and the young people themselves (although not by teachers), with some evidence of statistical and clinically significant changes, for example, in communication skills specifically and with general difficulties associated with autism. The results were found to be affected by total number of sessions attended, but not by age or academic functioning. Possible implications of the findings are presented in line with theory and for clinical practise. Limitations of the study are discussed and suggestions for future research made.

Topic: Motion Composition for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder Objectives: The aim of this thesis has been to find out the degree of mastery for individual performance of Motion Composition performed by children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Methods: Observation method was supplemented with video-recording that was conducted monthly. This was used to determine the degree of self-reliance. Also, feedback from other individuals has been used. Results: Outcomes of this survey indicate that children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are able to individually perform Motion Composition. Some children need more time to perform perfectly, but they are able to memorize components of Motion Composition, arrange them in the correct order and after some rehearsal they are able to perform Motion Composition correctly. The level of performance for individual components is raised proportionally when children can see visual execution of each element and also hear its description. Evaluated results of a second scientific question, which was related to the level of performance difficulty of individual components of Motion Composition for children with ASD, have brought unanticipated results. We anticipated that isometric exercises would be the most difficult components of Motion Composition. According...

Ce travail de thèse cherchait à étudier les compétences verbales chez les individus atteints de Troubles du Spectre Autistique, en se concentrant en particulier sur l'impact du traitement sur le développement de ces compétences, ainsi que sur l‘explication comportementale de la grammaire générative. Notre première étude comparait l'effet du traitement comportemental et du traitement pluridisciplinaire sur les aptitudes verbales des enfants avec TSA en milieu naturel. Les effets du traitement ont été évalués par l'analyse de résultats à des tests standardisés évaluant le vocabulaire commun, le vocabulaire spatial, la syntaxe et le raisonnement non – verbal, et en comparant le nombre d'enfants qui avaient intégré dans le milieu ordinaire (sans aménagement particulier). Les participants avec les meilleurs scores aux tests standardisés et dont les vitesses d'apprentissage atteignent ou dépassent la norme appartenaient au groupe ayant bénéficié d‘un traitement comportemental intensif précoce. C'est aussi dans ce groupe que se trouvait le plus fort pourcentage de participants ayant intégré le milieu ordinaire sans soutien particulier. Nous avons également exploré la façon dont les caractéristiques des enfants pourraient influencer l‘effet du traitement. Nos résultats indiquent que l'âge de début de traitement avait un effet que sur les vitesses d'apprentissage des compétences verbales et cela uniquement pour les participants ayant bénéficié d‘un traitement comportemental intensif. Nous avons aussi exploré la possibilité d'une relation entre la sévérité des symptômes à l'âge de 4-5 ans et les vitesses d'apprentissage et la sévérité des symptômes après environ 4ans de traitement comportemental intensif. L'analyse des données révèle que la gravité des symptômes à l'âge de 4 à 5 ans seraient prédictifs de la sévérité des symptômes qui seraient observés quelques années plus tard. Enfin, nous avons effectué un suivi et comparé les vitesses d'apprentissage après en moyenne 2 ans et après en moyenne 4 ans de traitement comportemental intensif. Une variabilité importante a été observée dans l'évolution des taux d'apprentissage d'un participant à un autre. Enfin, afin de mieux appréhender cette hétérogénéité, nous avons étudié la vitesse d'acquisition des compétences d'enfants avec TSA ayant bénéficié d‘un traitement comportemental intensif pendant en moyenne 4 ans. L'analyse des courbes d'apprentissage indique qu'il y aurait deux types d'apprenants ; des apprenants rapides et des apprenants lents, et cela in dépendamment de l'âge de début de traitement. Notre étude comparative a montré que si le traitement comportemental intensif résultait en des gains plus importants au niveau des aptitudes verbales des enfants atteints de TSA que le traitement multidisciplinaire, toutes les compétences verbales n‘étaient pas affectés de la même manière . En effet, les améliorations au niveau du vocabulaire sont plus importantes que celles observées pour la grammaire. Nous nous sommes attachés dans la deuxième partie de cette thèse à tenter d‘appréhender ces compétences grammaticales dans le cadre comportemental au sein d‘une population avec et sans troubles autistiques. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé des consignes réduites au strict minimum, des procédures d‘apprentissage des séquences et de Matching to Sample afin d‘apprendre aux participants à répondre à des stimuli. Ces réponses à ces stimuli étaient considérés comme analogues à certaines de compétences verbales complexes, notamment les relations syntaxiques, et les classes de mots (par exemple, les noms, les adjectifs, les verbes). / The current thesis aimed at investigating verbal skills in individuals with ASD, focusing in particular on the impact of treatment on the development of these skills, as well as attempting to contribute to a more complete behavior analytic explanation of complex generative language.Our first study aimed at comparing the effect of behavioral treatment and multi disciplinary treatment on the verbal skills of children on the autism spectrum in natural settings. Treatment outcome was assessed by analyzing the results to standardized tests evaluating common vocabulary, spatial vocabulary, syntax and non-verbal reasoning and by comparing the number of children who had been mainstreamed into regular classrooms without the help of an aide. Participants with the best test scores on the standardized tests and whose learning rates reached or exceeded normal learning rates of language skills belonged to the group that received early intensive behavioral treatment. It is also in this group that we find the highest percentage of participants who were mainstreamed without special support. We also set to explore how child variables could influence treatment outcome. Our results indicated that age of intake had an effect only on the learning rates of verbal skills and that only for participants who received intensive behavioral treatment. In addition, we explored the possibility of a relation between the severity of symptoms at the age of 4-5 years and the learning rates and the severity of symptoms after approximately 4 years of intensive behavioral treatment. Data analysis revealed that severity of symptoms impairing the development and interfering communication at the age of 4 to 5 years were predictive of the severity of the symptoms that would be observed a few years later. We also conducted a follow up and compared the learning rates after on average of 2 years of intensive behavioral treatment and after on average 4 years of treatment. Significant variability was observed in the evolution in learning rates from one participant to another. Finally, in an attempt to better understand this heterogeneity, we studied the rate of skill acquisition over a 4-year period of children on the autism spectrum who received intensive behavioral treatment. The analysis of the learning curves indicated that there were two types of learners, fast learners and slow learners and that, regardless of age of onset of treatment.Our comparative study showed that whilst intensive behavioral treatment resulted in more important gains in the verbal skills of children with ASD than multi disciplinary treatment, all verbal skills were not affected in the same way. Indeed the gains in vocabulary were more important than the ones in grammar. We thus set in the second part of this thesis to conduct a behavioral analysis of the development of complex verbal skills in the typically developing population but also in the population on the autism spectrum. We used minimal verbal instructions, and matching to sample and sequence training procedures to develop responding to stimulus classes. These were considered analogous to complex verbal skills, namely syntactic relations and classes of verbs, nouns or adjectives.

Many people would argue that New Zealand has had a poor reputation for providing support services for the families of people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The limited support services available for families in this country were highlighted during the trial and the manslaughter conviction of Janine Albury-Thomson. Albury-Thomson was found guilty of the manslaughter of her autistic daughter, Casey (MOH, 1999). The sentencing judge called for an independent inquiry to be held to examine the extent of support services that were available for families affected by the disorder with a view to identifying any gaps that may exist and ascertaining whether or not government policy could be blamed (Norris, 1998). More than twelve years have now elapsed since the Albury-Thomson trial and research was needed to ascertain the experiences of families raising a child with ASD. This research examines the experiences of families who have a child who has an ASD diagnosis. Research participants were families of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder who reside in the Canterbury/West Coast area. The research explored the support needs of families and the informal and formal supports that are available to them in this region. This research was conducted in three parts, with each part having a distinct method of data collection allowing triangulation of research findings. Part one was a survey questionnaire distributed via a range of mediums using a snowball sampling method. The second data set was made up of two case studies that were undertaken with a semi-structured interview approach. The third set of data was elicited via a semi-structured interview process from five local service providers that provide services to those with ASD and their families. A qualitative methodology was adopted to analyse research findings. This methodological approach was selected because it gave participants the opportunity to tell their stories about the diagnostic pathway they travelled and their experiences using available services. This research has social policy relevance as it was designed to examine the participant’s experiences while using services and resources available for the families of people with ASD in the Canterbury/West Coast area. Participants told of various social, emotional, and practical impacts and of the experiences they encountered while using the various services available. While the level of awareness of ASD has increased, the diagnosis process proved to be problematic for some when using the public health system. Consistent with a 2001 study commissioned on behalf of the Autistic Association of New Zealand, participants in this study who sought a diagnosis through the public health system found it to be a protracted process. Participants attributed delays to a lack of resources or staff that had a limited knowledge of ASD and saw these factors as barriers to obtaining a diagnosis within an acceptable time frame. A more timely diagnosis was reportedly received when the private health system was used. With regards to support offered by the agencies involved with ‘day to day’ contact with families it was found that overall, competent, experienced people worked for the existing agencies and they were capable of offering support where needed. However specific issues were identified by participants including a perception that case managers failed to understand their situation because they were unfamiliar with the implications of having a family member with ASD. Significantly, family members and service providers both identified a concern about a lack of suitable accommodation that can be utilised by a person with ASD. Because there is limited research into the support needs of families of a child with ASD this research provides an important insight into the needs of a fairly marginalised, and sometimes socially isolated, group. Implications for ongoing service provision and support of families are discussed in the thesis.

過去累積許多關於自閉症類兒童模仿的研究；其中，Lyons等人（2011）提出自動化因果編錄（ACE）是相當重要的理論。ACE認為自閉症類兒童之所以重演缺乏目標的動作，是因為部件相連作業呈現的外觀連續性，令自閉症類兒童較易將缺乏目標的動作視為導致目標動作前的必要動作。於是本研究的目的在於驗證自閉症類兒童的動作重演表現是否符合自動化因果編錄理論的預測：當部件分離時，自閉症類兒童無法推論缺乏目標的動作是否有出現的必要，於是動作重演將減少。本研究邀請24名自閉症類兒童，以及配對心理年齡30個月大的21名發展遲緩兒童與24名一般發展兒童，將部件相連與部件分離作業當作組內的操弄變項，並另外施測無意義物體動作作業，將帶有目標的有關動作、缺乏目標的無關動作與無意義物體動作三者當作依變項，比較三組兒童的動作重演表現。結果發現：一、自閉症類兒童在有關動作前重演的無關動作並沒有在部件分離作業中較少，此結果不支持ACE理論。二、自閉症類兒童能夠重演無關動作，不易重演無意義物體動作，或許是因為自閉症類兒童可以重演物體本身提供的動作屬性，然而抑制已形成的習慣有困難。三、自閉症類兒童重演有關動作與無意義物體動作的表現較另二組差，兩者正相關，而無關動作的重演表現與另二組無異，也許是因為無意義物體動作與有關動作的相似度較高，皆可被視為示範動作中的主要目標動作，而無關動作較屬於次要的動作；換句話說，或許自閉症類兒童的困難在於重演主要目標的動作，但是重演次要動作的困難則不明顯。整體而言，本研究對於早期自閉症類兒童的社會學習障礙提出可能的觀點。 / Research showed distinctive imitative pattern in children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs), and one of the possible explanations is automatic causal encoding (ACE; Lyons et al, 2011). In ACE’s view, connective parts of task facilitate ASDs to copy actions without goals, which are seen as necessary to occur before copying actions with goals. Present research is to examine ACE theory in ASDs: when parts of the task separate, ASDs cannot infer the necessity of actions with goals to copy, and behaviors copying reduce. 69 children at mental age 30 months (24 ASDs, 21 developmental delay, and 24 normal development) enrolled our experiment, which was composed of connective parts of task, separate parts of task, and meaningless object movement task, with related actions (related to goal), unrelated actions(unrelated to goal), and meaningless object movements served as dependent variables. Several findings arose. First, copying behaviors of unrelated actions prior to related actions did not decline in separate parts of task, which disapprove ACE theory. Second, irrelevant actions copying was unimpaired in ASDs, while meaningless object movements copying seemed difficult for ASDs, which may due to ASDs’ ability to copy object properties of actions, but inability to inhibit habituated routines. Third, ASDs copied related actions and meaningless object movements less than the other groups, and the two actions were positively correlated, while unrelated actions copying showed no difficulty. This demonstrates that related actions and meaningless object movements are both actions with primary goals, while unrelated actions are subordinate actions; namely, one possible difficulty for ASDs to copy is actions with primary goal, while copying subordinate actions seems unimpaired. In sum, present research provides perspectives on ASDs’ impairments with social learning.

Graduation thesis deal about education children with autism in social care institutions. First part describes pervasive evolutionary disorders, it's etiology, clinical picture, diagnosis of autism and typical triads of disorder. This thesis also deals with institutions care, it's history and present situation in education care. Final part is research of social care institutions which take care persons with autism. Goal of the research is mapped situation education care for people with autism in social care institutions. Research methods are questionnaire, interview, content analysis. Research is complemented by case studies.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2017-01-26T20:13:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Régia Vidal dos Santos.pdf: 1330804 bytes, checksum: 876f6b6de429e4e830d5809b53407e7d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-26T20:13:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Régia Vidal dos Santos.pdf: 1330804 bytes, checksum: 876f6b6de429e4e830d5809b53407e7d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-01 / This dissertation has as subject of study the emancipatory perspective of children’s schooling process with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and has as object the analysis of this perspective in the process of education of children with ASD enrolled in the initial years of two elementary schools of São Paulo educational system. The research was guided by the following questions: does the political-pedagogical routing of the management and teaching staff for children with ASD, translate into an emancipatory perspective? How is the educational work with children with ASD in two public schools of São Paulo school system developed? How do the agents involved in this process receive and forward this issue? It was considered the hypothesis that there is a recognition in the school community that, from a legal point of view, the inclusion of children with ASD is an assignment of the school, but, given the pedagogical, cultural and structural conditions in which it is immersed, this inclusion does not materialize in an emancipatory educational project. The theoretical reference that supported this work was the emancipatory education concept of Paulo Freire. Based on the assumptions of qualitative methodology of empirical and theoretical character, case studies were carried out from data collected though semi-structured interviews with the children with ASD, family, managers, teachers and staff at two schools of the municipality of São Paulo, with a responsible technician of the Center of Pedagogical Support Specialized (CAPE); and with a public prosecutor of Group of Special Education Actuation of the Public Ministry of State of São Paulo (GEDUC); and through a focal group with classmates of children with ASD. In the course of research and in their final considerations, we realize that there is legal recognition that the inclusion of children with ASD is a school assignment, but the emancipatory perspective, in neither of the two schools is hegemonic. In one of them that liberating approach is announced, when we look at the efforts of educators who, by betting on the dimension of “being more” of his student, seek to recreate the practice itself from the reading of the pedagogical reality, which suggests ways to build an emancipatory perspective in the educational process of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. / Esta disertación tiene como tema de estudio la perspectiva emancipadora del proceso de escolarización de los niños con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) y, como objeto, el análisis de esa perspectiva en el proceso de escolarización de los niños con TEA registrados en los años iniciales de la enseñanza fundamental en dos escuelas públicas del estado de São Paulo. Las siguientes preguntas guían la investigación: ¿El encaminamiento político-pedagógico del equipo de gestión y la enseñanza de niños con TEA, se traduce en una perspectiva emancipadora? ¿Cómo se desarrolla el trabajo educativo con los niños con TEA en dos escuelas públicas de este sistema escolar? ¿Cómo los agentes implicados en este proceso acogen y encaminan esa cuestión? Se consideró la hipótesis de que hay un reconocimiento en la comunidad escolar de que, del punto de vista legal, la inclusión de niños con TEA es una atribución de la escuela, pero, dadas las condiciones pedagógicas, culturales y estructurales en que la misma está inmersa, esa inclusión no se materializa en un proyecto educativo emancipador. El referencial teórico que apoya ese trabajo fue la concepción de educación emancipadora de Paulo Freire. Sobre la base de los supuestos de la metodología cualitativa de carácter empírico y teórico, estudios de caso se llevaron a cabo a partir de los datos recogidos por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas con los niños con TEA, miembros de la familia, gestores, profesores y profesionales en dos escuelas del municipio de São Paulo; con un responsable técnico del Núcleo de Apoyo Pedagógico Especializado (CAPE); y con un promotor de justicia del Grupo de Actuación Especial do Ministerio Público do Estado de São Paulo (GEDUC); y por medio de grupo focal con compañeros de clase de los niños con TEA. En el transcurrir de la investigación y en sus consideraciones finales, percibimos que hay el reconocimiento legal de que la inclusión de los niños con TEA es una atribución de la escuela, pero la perspectiva emancipadora en ninguna de las dos escuelas se hace hegemónica. En una de ellas ese enfoque libertador se anuncia, cuando observemos el esfuerzo de educadoras que, al apostar en la dimensión del “ser más” de su alumno, buscan volver a crear la propia práctica a partir de la lectura de su realidad pedagógica, lo que sugiere caminos para la construcción de una perspectiva emancipadora en el proceso educacional de niños con el Trastorno del Espectro Autista. / Esta dissertação tem como tema de estudo a perspectiva emancipadora do processo de escolarização de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) e, como objeto, a análise dessa perspectiva no processo de escolarização de crianças com TEA matriculadas nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental de duas escolas da rede estadual de ensino paulista. Orientaram a pesquisa as seguintes questões: o encaminhamento político-pedagógico da equipe gestora e docente às crianças com TEA se traduz em uma perspectiva emancipadora? Como se desenvolve o trabalho educativo com as crianças com TEA nas duas escolas públicas dessa rede de ensino? Como os agentes envolvidos nesse processo acolhem e encaminham essa questão? Considerou-se a hipótese de que há um reconhecimento na comunidade escolar de que, do ponto de vista legal, a inclusão de crianças com TEA é uma atribuição da escola, mas, dadas as condições pedagógicas, culturais e estruturais em que a mesma está imersa, essa inclusão não se materializa em um projeto educativo emancipador. O referencial teórico que subsidiou esse trabalho foi a concepção de educação emancipadora de Paulo Freire. Com base nos pressupostos da metodologia qualitativa de caráter empírico-teórico, foram realizados estudos de caso a partir dos dados levantados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com as crianças com TEA, familiares, gestores, professores e funcionários em duas escolas do município de São Paulo; com um técnico responsável do Núcleo de Apoio Pedagógico Especializado (CAPE); e com um promotor de justiça do Grupo de Atuação Especial de Educação do Ministério Público do Estado de São Paulo (GEDUC); e por meio de grupo focal com colegas de classe das crianças com TEA. No decorrer da pesquisa e em suas considerações finais, percebemos que há o reconhecimento legal de que a inclusão das crianças com TEA é uma atribuição da escola, mas a perspectiva emancipadora, em nenhuma das duas escolas se faz hegemônica. Em uma delas esse enfoque libertador se anuncia, quando observamos o esforço de educadoras que, ao apostar na dimensão do “ser mais” de seu aluno, procuram recriar a própria prática a partir da leitura da sua realidade pedagógica, o que sugere caminhos para a construção de uma perspectiva emancipadora no processo educacional de crianças com o Transtorno do Espectro Autista.