Abstract:

The needs of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) arise from dysfunctions or difficulties associated with their condition. In addition to the classical methods of education and training, they need the application of socio-pedagogical methods and approaches for educational impact, training, rehabilitation and socialization, meeting their needs for the formation, recovery and/or improvement of impaired functions. After the closure of the auxiliary/specialized schools in Bulgaria and the integration of children with SEN into mainstream schools, parents have difficulties in the adaptation and inclusion of children in an environment with typically developing peers. Parents of children with SEN are concerned about the lack of sufficiently qualified staff and environments in mainstream schools to match the needs of their children. The report offers the results of an online survey using a mixed methods approach and including 18 questions. In processing the open questions, thematic examples are derived. The survey was conducted with 40 parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), regarding their attitudes towards the creation of an integrated environment - kindergarten and school, with educational and therapeutic focus. The results of the questionnaire show that according to the parents, the children have difficulties in the mainstream school they attend and there are problems with their integration. According to them, teachers in kindergartens and schools are not sufficiently informed about the specifics of children's illnesses and the appropriate methods for working with them. Parents believe that apart from education, the most appropriate methods and forms of working with their children enable them to acquire social, practical and independence skills. Parents expressed the view that, given the difficulties that accompany the disease, it is necessary to create an appropriate environment in which both to conduct individual training and to apply therapeutic programmes, leisure activities; work with parents and activities for the social integration of children can be implemented. The report concludes that there is a need to provide integrated socio-educational services in a structured environment to meet the needs of those children with ASD who cannot successfully integrate into mainstream educational institutions.

Keywords:

Children, Special Educational Needs, inclusion, education.