Autism Spectrum Disorder and School Interactions: Classroom and Schoolyard

ABSTRACT: This study aimed at analyzing interactional episodes of children with autism in the classroom and schoolyard contexts, considering their peers and teachers. It is understood the relevance of school inclusion and specific social interactions that occur in these contexts from the neurodevelopmental, socio-communicative and behavioral characteristics of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In order to do that, eight filming sessions were held in two private schools, with four teachers, four children with autism and 42 children with typical development. The results were presented in quantitative terms, from the frequencies of interactional episodes; and qualitative terms, from the description of four case studies containing excerpts from the interactional episodes. In spite of the variations between the contexts, the complete interactional episodes were characterized by the use of objects and dyadic mediations directed by the teachers to the autistic children. On the interactions between the pairs, it is emphasized that these exchanges were more frequent during free activities in the context of the classroom. Finally, the role of the study of the interactional episodes for the processes of research, evaluation and intervention in the school area is emphasized.