COUNSELLING NEEDS OF THE CHALLENGED CHILDREN: EXPERIENCE OF AUTISM AMONG COUNSELLING PERSONNEL IN ONITSHA EDUCATION ZONE, ANAMBRA STATE
Abstract
The study investigated the counselling needs of the challenged persons as observed by guidance counsellors in Public Secondary Schools and Special Education centres in Onitsha Education Zone. Three (3) research questions guided the study. The study was conducted using a descriptive research design. The entire population of 35 guidance counsellors and therapists in 32 Public Secondary Schools and 1 Special Education Centre in Onitsha Education Zone was used. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire that measured knowledge of autism and counselling needs of the challenged. Distribution of the questionnaire was done through direct delivery method. Descriptive statistics (percentages) were used to analyse the collected data. The research findings included the knowledge of autism among the counsellors and therapists, their counselling needs, such as: Awareness, understanding and identifying their problems and providing counselling interventions. Relevant conclusions and recommendations were made. Some of the recommendations were creation of more special education centres in the state, encouraging more charitable individuals to be involved in the management of such centres, and posting of more professional counsellors and therapists to schools to replace retired and transferred ones to make such centres functional and dynamic.
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