Abstract:

Introduction:
The contribution is focused on adaptation of a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to changes. A part of the research project is a questionnaire which deals with a development of a database of images and keywords for persons with ASD and their social workers, teachers, and assistants. The project (TL02000214/Intelligent Database to Support the Development of Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders or the Other Groups of Individuals with Impairments) is supported by Technology Agency of the Czech Republic within Eta Program. (https://www.tacr.cz/logotypy/Eta.png). The questionnaire is included in the technical part of the project.

Aims:
The main aim of the research is to support communication of persons with ASD and their social workers, teachers, and assistants. The project aims to include the target group to society.

Methodology and data collection:
The questionnaire was conducted in the Czech Republic (CR) and the Slovak Republic (SR) in 2019. A selected part of the research was published at the beginning of 2020 with an aim of more profound data processing and presentation of another part of the data. The questionnaire was semi-structured and the data were collected electronically and by phone. The respondents were workers of facilities and schools who work with persons with ASD. The collection of the data showed a tendency towards quantitative research.

Processing of data and evaluation of results:
Quantitative data processing has been conducted as well as testing of the hypotheses (X2 test for goodness, X2 test in a contingency table, and statistical hypothesis testing). There were 23 responses acquired (45.1 %) in the CR and 28 in the SR (54.9 %). One of the parts of the research revealed that the preparation of ASD persons for the change of environment by means of proven strategies was successful in 78 % of the cases. No statistically significant differences were found among Czech and Slovak responses in the evaluation of the success of the changes.

Summary:
The technical part of the ongoing project (development of a database of images and keywords) may notably help to develop more effective communication with people with ASD as well as to support better adaptation to changes.

Keywords:

Adaptation, autistic spectrum disorder, intelligent database of images, support, communication.