CURRENT STATUS ON DEVELOPING A PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS PREPARING TO ENTER INCLUSIVE GRADE 1

Abstract

Preparing children for Grade 1 is preparing the premises and elements of learning activities to be able to adapt best and fastest to learning in Grade 1. By using quantitative research methods, this paper describes the current situation of implementing and developing preschool education programs to prepare children with autism spectrum disorders to enter inclusive Grade 1 in Vietnam. The main findings include: 1) Schools/centers are using a variety of different programs, there is no unified general program; 2) Teachers are very interested in including cognitive content, school skills, and learning skills in the teaching program; 3) The teaching methods used are very diverse and the most used ones as Practical training, Visual support, Encouragement and reward, Modeling; 4) Factors affecting pre-school education include: children's weakness, parents' support at home, coordination with child support forces from kindergartens and primary schools; 5) Most teachers believe that there should be a separate pre-school education program.