The Impact of a Training Program on Raising Awareness among Families of Gifted Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of a proposed training program on raising awareness among the families of gifted students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), enhance their understanding of concepts related to giftedness, and enable them to adopt effective educational strategies to nurture their children’s talents. The study also aimed to develop a future framework for training programs that meet the real needs of these families. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design and was applied in Al-Amal School in Rahat, with a purposive sample of 20 families, randomly assigned to two equal groups: experimental and control.

The independent variable was the training program, while the dependent variable was the level of family awareness. The results of the T-test showed statistically significant differences at the (α ≤ 0.05) level between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group showing better outcomes in all four domains of the questionnaire. This indicates the effectiveness of the training program in achieving its objectives. The results revealed that the program helped families distinguish between behaviors related to the disorder and the manifestations of special abilities, and enabled them to adopt strategies that foster their children's talents. The findings emphasized the importance of designing future training programs based on the real needs of families, improving the likelihood of developing practical and applicable interventions. The study recommended officially adopting the training program within school family support plans, designing ongoing training programs, and providing specialized training for educators to offer effective family support. Additionally, it suggested creating simplified educational materials, strengthening the partnership between schools and families, supporting inclusive education policies that address "twice-exceptionality," and conducting broader future studies to test the generalizability of the results in different contexts.