INCLUSIVE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH AUTISM IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS IN THE MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION

An education of students with the autistic spectrum disorder is very specific and demanding activity. Together with the prevalence of autism in population there is an increasing need to inform teachers who educate students with the autistic spectrum disorder, as well as other school employees and parents. The inclusive educational system in the Czech Republic allows autistic students to be educated in the mainstream schools. Their education must reflect not only their specific needs, but also their expressions, which are different from their peers. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the proper procedures, teaching methods and approaches while educating autistic students. This article reflects the current state of an education of students with the autistic spectrum disorder in the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. This topic was studied from different aspects: teaching opportunities in pre-school, elementary and high school education, work system and used methods. The main research method used for the quantitative studies was interviewing, with a purpose-made questionnaire. The research project analysis the educational process of students with the autistic spectrum disorder educated in pre-school, elementary and high school education. The research was executed with 160 participants (N=160; 45 from pre-schools, 87 from elementary schools and 28 from high schools). The deep analysis of received data revealed specifics of an education of autistic students. Univariate and bivariate analysis of empiric data was used as a statistic method to process the received data. The article presents remarkable results of analysis which clarify practical and theoretical preparedness of tutors to work with autistic students, as well as support opportunities in training and education of students with the autistic spectrum disorder in the Czech school environment.