The Role of Autism Centers in Enhancing the Social Skills of Autistic Children From the Perspective of Social Workers in Autism Centers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the role of autism centers in enhancing the social skills of autistic children from the point of view of social workers working in autism centers as well to identify the major obstacles and needs of the autism centers to enhance the social skills of autistic children. The participants in the study consisted of 128 social workers working in autism centers in the emirates of Ajman and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. This descriptive study was based on a questionnaire consisting of 40 items was designed and randomly distributed to social workers at different autism centers in the emirates of Ajman and Sharjah. The results of the study revealed that social workers have a high-perspective point of view on the important role of autism centers in enhancing autistic children’s social skills, the necessity to provide social and psychological support programs for autistic children at the center, and increasing the number of competent social workers inside the autism centers. The study also showed that the role of autism centers in enhancing the social skills of autistic children varies according to the gender of social workers in favor of male social workers, and there were no statistically significant differences according to the variables of academic qualification and the experience of social workers. The study recommended more studies on children with autism and autism centers.