Abstract:

Introduction:
The article presents an evaluation of a questionnaire about the communication of persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the Czech Republic (CR) and Slovak Republic (SR). The questionnaire is a basis for a project focused on the intelligent database for people with autism spectrum disorders (or other impairments), their families, teachers, and assistants. The project is dealt with the Institute of Special Education Studies, Faculty of Education at Palacky University Olomouc; The project (TL02000214/Inteligent Database to Support The Development of Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders or The Other Groups of Individuals with Impairments) is supported by The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic within the Eta Program. The project supports current needs of the target group in the context of social and technological changes.

Objectives:
The main aim of our project is the elimination of social exclusion in persons with ASD or individuals with other types of impairments and their families.

Methodology and data collection:
The data were collected in the CR and the SR across services and school facilities that work with the persons with ASD (or other type of impairment) and their families. The quantitative research method was used. The method of data collection was a semi-structured questionnaire, which was distributed electronically by the email. It was also supported by the telephonic contact with the services or the schools that work with the persons with ASD and their families.

Processing of data and evaluation of results:
In total, 51 respondents took part in the questionnaire. There were 23 respondents (45.1%) in the CR and 28 respondents (54.9%) in the SR. The quantitative data has been evaluated statistically. The X2 test for goodness, the X2 test in contingency table, and the statistical hypothesis testing on the relative frequency were used. The research showed that the Slovak respondents (92.9%) would appreciate new applications more than the Czech respondents (65.2%). The results of this part are crucial to our project and they support its meaningfulness.

Conclusion:
The questionnaire allowed us to provide the contacts with services and schools for the target group. Some organizations promised future cooperation. The questionnaire represents an important information platform for further development of the information-technical part of the project.

Keywords:

Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intelligent Database