Perceived barriers and needs of teachers in inclusive schools and their relationship with transformation processes

ABSTRACT

In the transformation towards inclusive education, teachers are professionals who research, reflect on, and identify the conditions that hinder their development and that of their students. This study focused on a population of pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It aimed to apply a quantitative methodology to analyze the relationships existing among the barriers perceived in the teaching-learning process, teacher needs, and transformative attitudes toward the process of inclusion of these children. A total of 454 teachers from mainstream schools participated in this study. A Structural Equation Model was carried out to test the proposed relationships. The results showed that a greater perception of the barriers faced by these students meant that the needs perceived by teachers were also more pronounced. These needs are related to training and experience regarding the inclusion of pupils with ASD, as well as the resources and support teachers available to them. Perceived needs have significant positive effects on teachers’ attitudes in favour of transforming the process of inclusion of pupils with ASD. The importance of introducing changes in inclusive education for the most vulnerable students was highlighted.

KEYWORDS:

• Transformation
• barriers
• needs
• attitudes
• ASD
• structural equation modelling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 [grant no PID2020-113338RB-I00]; Departamento de Ciencia, Universidad y Sociedad del Conocimiento del Gobierno de Aragón [grant no S42_23R: CREVALOR and S49_23R_EDI].

Notes on contributors

Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela

Cecilia Latorre-Cosculluela is Lecturer in Education at the Department of Educational Sciences of the University of Zaragoza (Spain). She has been an active part of several national and European R&D projects developed around the innovative educational dynamics in Higher Education and inclusive education.

Pilar Rivera-Torres

Pilar Rivera-Torres is a university professor in the Marketing Department of the University of Zaragoza. She has directed numerous R&D&I projects and has published a large amount of research in her area of study.

Marta Liesa-Orús

Marta Liesa-Orús is a Full University Professor in Didactics and School Organization at the University of Zaragoza. She has participated in numerous conferences, research projects and educational innovation and is a member of the recognized research group ‘Education and Diversity’.