An exploration of school strategies enabling teachers in mainstream schools to support learners with Asperger’s Syndrome

Abstract

Having good educational policies that are in-line with international inclusive standards is a positive step in addressing previous educational inequalities in South Africa. The Department of Education’s White Paper 6 policy document of 2001 states that by 2021 most mainstream (primary) schools, would operate as Full-Service schools, that will be equipped and supported to meet the diverse needs of all learners. In addition, great emphasis is placed on the pivotal role the mainstream classroom teacher will play in the inclusion process.The purpose of this study was to explore school strategies that will enable teachers to support learners with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) as prior to the completion of this thesis it was unclear which strategies were used in order to support these learners.