Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their perception of highschool transition compared to their peers
The transition to high school is an important milestone in the life of a teenager, which concurrently takes place with other physical, emotional and intellectual changes. The changes in this transitioning period potentially contribute to the emergence of mental health problems. While the literature includes many studies regarding students’ transition to high school, none has discussed this among students with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aims to describe the perception of 14 students with ASD who are integrated into an ordinary classroom in comparison to 14 of their peers regarding their fears, their positive expectations and the means that may potentially facilitate the transition to high school. To this end, McNemar tests were used to compare the responses of both groups. The results indicate that there is no significant difference between each group pertaining to their fears, positive expectations and elements that would be helpful. Thus, it is recommended to adopt a normative stand with this clientele.