The Evaluation of the Preparation Program for Teachers of Autism Spectrum Disorder in light of the Standards of the Council of Exceptional Children from the Point of View of Faculty Members at Taif University

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the level of application of the standards of the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Teachers' Preparation Program at Taif University (TU) from the point of view of faculty members. A descriptive approach was employed with a questionnaire as the research tool. The questionnaire was prepared and translated from English into Arabic and developed based on the "Professional Preparation Standards for Special Educators" (PSSE) of the standards of the CEC. The questionnaire included seven standards, which included 32 items that measured the availability of the standards of the CEC in the ASD teachers' preparation program. The study sample consisted of 36 faculty members, who taught in the ASD program in the Department of Special Education at TU. The results of the study revealed the level of the standards of the CEC in the program for preparing teachers of ASD at TU from the point of view of the faculty members at TU, in general, was at a high degree. In addition, the level of application of the seven standards included in the study tool was at a high degree. In light of the results, the study recommended conducting similar studies at universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to substantiate the findings.