CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN CHILDREN: PARENTAL AND EDUCATOR AWARENESS

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, young children, early intervention, preschool educators, parents
Abstarct: Objective – to assess the awareness of parents and preschool educators regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children. Materials and Methods. An online survey via Google Forms was conducted among 100 parents to evaluate their awareness of early ASD signs, and among 100 preschool educators in Ivanovo to assess their attitudes toward inclusive education and the availability of diagnostic and therapeutic resources for children with ASD. Additionally, the ASSQ (Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire) was administered to 141 parents of children aged 6–7 years to screen for autistic traits. Results and Discussion. Key barriers to early diagnosis include insufficient awareness among parents and educators regarding early ASD markers, the perception of diagnostic procedures as a risk of child stigmatization, and limited access to early intervention services. These factors underscore the need for systematic assessment of stakeholder awareness and the development of targeted strategies to optimize support for children with ASD. Conclusion. The gap between general ASD awareness and educators’ practical knowledge of behavioral intervention methods highlights the need for training in inclusive practices. Parental psychological acceptance of their child’s diagnosis varied significantly across the sample.

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