Autistic Disorder: Implication for Early Childhood Education in Nigeria

The study investigates the impact of Autism and its implication in early child education. The disorder happens to be one of the disturbing problems to a child’s learning and wellbeing. The study was carried out in four primary schools; two in Aba, Abia state and the other two in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The research population includes 407 pupils randomly selected from the selected schools. The survey design method was adopted; the children were observed and assessed through questionnaires administered to them through their teachers. Our findings show that autistic disorder is prevalent among girls; and among the autistic symptoms identified, the social functioning deficit, perceptual and motor deficits are more prevalent than language deficit and repetitive and motor movement. The result of our investigation also shows that these symptoms are at variance with Cognitive developmental stages. The purpose of these findings is to enlightening parents, caregivers, educators and policy makers in Nigeria on how best to handle the education of children with Autistic disorder. This will reduce the rate at which Autistic children are denied access to effective and functional education that meets their peculiar needs in Nigeria. This is notwithstanding the fact that education as observed by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is fundamental human right and key to reducing poverty and child labor as well as promoting sustainable development. Consequent upon this, every child irrespective of his/her health condition has the right to access effective and functional education.