The Effectiveness of a Training Program to Develop an Attitude toward Creativity in Gifted Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sherif Adel Gaber

Abstract


Attitude toward creativity may play a central role in developing creative abilities in gifted children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), so, examining attitudes toward creativity is important. This empirical research evaluated the effectiveness of a training program to develop attitudes toward creativity, that is, training that encourages the production of a wide range of ideas marked by freshness and originality in the realms of talent; these ideas should be practical and beneficial, and well received in the community in which these gifted children live). The sample involved six gifted children with ASD, aged between 8 and 12 years. A quasi-experimental approach was used, the Scale of Attitude toward Creativity was applied, and the training program was presented by the researcher. The results show a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the mean ranks of participants on the Scale of Attitude toward Creativity before and after the application of the training program, in favor of the post-test. After two months, a follow-up application of the Scale of Attitude toward Creativity found no statistically significant difference between the mean ranks of participants between the second and third evaluation. In light of these findings, the researcher recommends that the necessary services and funds are provided to develop the talents of gifted children with ASD. Specialized programs should be pursued in the fields of the talents discovered in these children. Research in the field of giftedness and ASD should be strengthened and gifted children with ASD must participate and be included in various relevant programs and events.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.4.21


Keywords


Attitudes toward creativity; Autism spectrum disorder; Gifted children

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abu Al-Nour, M., Abdel-Fattah, A., & Abdel-Fattah, A. (2014). Evaluation and diagnosis in special education in the light of comprehensive quality standards. Al-Rushd Library.

Akl, B. (2014). The effectiveness of a play-based training program in developing visual perception among gifted autistic children and its impact on verbal communication. The Scientific Journal of the College of Specific Education, (2), 169–206. http://mu.menofia.edu.eg/PrtlFiles/Faculties/edv/SMagazines/edv_SMag/Portal/Files/%D8%AF.%D8%A8%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1%205.pdf

Al-Assal, S. (2013). Autism between giftedness and disability: a case study. The Tenth Arab Scientific Conference for the Gifted and Talented – Criteria and Indicators of Excellence: Educational Reform and Care for the Gifted and Talented: The Arab Council for the Gifted and Talented, Part 2. Arab Council for the Gifted and Talented, 247-272. https://search.mandumah.com/Record/483783

Al-Dakhil, A. (2019). The effectiveness of brain-based learning in developing the attitude toward creativity among gifted students with learning disabilities. The Arab Journal of Disability and Gifted Sciences, (7), 187-218. https://jasht.journals.ekb.eg/article_41351.html

Al-Maaytah, Kh., & Al-Bawalis, M. (2004). Talent and excellence. House of Thought.

Al-Quraiti, A. (2011). Psychology of people with special needs and their education (5th ed). Anglo-Egyptian Library.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). American Psychiatric Association.

APA. (2015). APA Dictionary of psychology (2nd ed). American Psychological Association.

Autism Society. (2020, March 26). What is autism? https://www.autism-society.org/what-is/

Bennett, E., & Heaton, P. (2012). Is talent in autism spectrum disorders associated with a specific cognitive and behavioural phenotype? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(12), 2739-2753. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1533-9

Clark, T. (2017). Giftedness and autism savant skill fact sheet. SSMHealth. https://www.agnesian.com/blog/giftedness-and-autism-savant-skill-fact-sheet

Fairouz, A. (2018). The difference in talent according to the cognitive skills of individuals with autism disorder [Unpublished Master's dissertation, Arabian Gulf University]. http://search.shamaa.org/PDF/Articles/KUJsere/JsereVol1No1Y2021/jsere_2021-v1-n1_187-220.pdf

Hetzroni, O., Agada, H., & Leikin, M. (2019). Creativity in autism: An examination of general and mathematical creative thinking among children with autism spectrum disorder and children with typical development, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(9), 3833-3844. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04094-x

Hughes, J. E. A., Ward, J., Gruffydd, E., Baron-Cohen, S., Smith, P., Allison, C., & Simner, J. (2018). Savant syndrome has a distinct psychological profile in autism. Molecular Autism, 9, 53. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-018-0237-1

Ibrahim, V., & Sheikh, H. (2010). Psychology of people with special needs: Concept and categories. Al-Rushd Library.

Kasirer, A., & Mashal, N. (2014). Verbal creativity in autism: comprehension and generation of metaphoric language in high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and typical development. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 615. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00615

Kasirer, A., Adi-Japha, E., & Mashal, N. (2020). Verbal and figural creativity in children with autism spectrum disorder and typical development. Frontiers in Psychology. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559238

Lord, C., Elsabbagh M., Baird, G., & Veenstra-Vanderweele, J. (2018). Autism spectrum disorder. The Lancet, 392(10146), 508-520. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31129-2

Mada. (2021). A guide to support high-ability and gifted children with autism in education. Assistive Technology Center. https://www.mada.org.qa/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/MADA_HFG-ENGLISH.pdf

Mohamed, A. (2008). Music therapy for autistic children: Foundations and applications. Al Rashad House.

Pring, L., Ryder, N., Crane, L., & Hermelin, B. (2012). Creativity in savant artists with autism. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 16(1), 45-57. http://doi.org/10.1177/1362361311403783

Sanchack, K., & Thomas C. (2016). Autism spectrum disorder: Primary care principles. American Family Physician, 94(12), 972–979. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2016/1215/afp20161215p972.pdf

Saudi Ministry of Education. (2015). Organizational guide for special education. The National School Development Program. https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/pages/default.aspx

Suleiman, A. (2012). A glossary of autistic disorder terms. Anglo-Egyptian Library.

Wadani, M., & Aboul Fotouh, M. (2019). Building and standardizing an assessment scale for behavioral indicators predictive of giftedness among students with autism disorder. Jordan Journal of Educational Sciences, 15(4), 399-417. https://journals.yu.edu.jo/jjes/Issues/2019/Vol15No4/2.pdf

Yahya, Kh. (2010). Counseling families with special needs (3rd ed). House of Thought.

Zhang, Y., & Han V. (2018). Neurobiological mechanisms of autistic savant and acquired savant. Sheng Li Xue Bao, 70(2), 201–210. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29691585/


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493