Pre-service Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Including Students with ASD in General Education

Mary A. Houser, Ed.D.
Tara S. Guerriero, Ph.D.
David L. Bolton, Ph.D.
Esther Smidt, Ph.D.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

The purpose of this study was to examine special education and general education pre-service teachers’ attitudes toward including PK-12 students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the general education classroom from an academic perspective. This study surveyed 160 undergraduate pre-service teachers (special education and general education) from a mid-size, northeastern state university’s teacher preparation programs using an adapted version of the Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education Scale (ATIES). Significant differences were found in pre-service teachers’ attitudes when examining the impact of the academic level of the PK-12 student with ASD, the academic program of study (e.g. special education vs. general education), and the level of undergraduate progress (i.e. year in undergraduate career).  

Keywords: inclusion, inclusive education, pre-service teacher attitude, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), teacher preparation program, special education, general education

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