EXPERIENCES OF GIFTED CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, THEIR PARENTS, AND TEACHERS IN TURKIYE WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Year 2024, Volume: 25 Issue: 1, 33 - 51, 01.01.2024

Neslisah Sıkıcıkoglu , Muharrem Koc , Seray Olcay , Sezgin Vuran

https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1183405

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the experiences of gifted children with autism spectrum disorder, their parents, and teachers with the COVID-19 pandemic and holistically reveal the reflections of the restrictions in this process and the transition to distance education on the lives and especially the education of gifted children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study was designed with a phenomenological research design, one of the qualitative research methods. The study participants were gifted children with ASD, aged between 6-14 and continuing their education through inclusion, their parents and teachers. The research data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed in detail by interpretive phenomenological analysis. As a result of the data analysis, two themes, “The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on life” and “Distance education and its impacts in the COVID-19 process”, and 12 categories were reached. Recommendations were presented in line with the study findings and the literature.

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder, superior ıntelligence, gifted child with ASD, distance education, COVID-19 Pandemic, twice-exceptional

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