Özet:

This study, aimed at studying the knowledge and attitudes of pre-school teachers candidates to children with autism spectrum disorder, was carried out in a visual scan pattern. The research was carried out with 193 teachers candidates who continued to study in the third and last class of pre-school teaching.  In the study, "Otizm coating scale was used. The measurement tool consists of two parts, knowledge and attitude size. The section used in order to obtain information about autism spectrum disorders by the teacher candidates of the scale is classified according to the "right, wrong and unknown" categories. The attitude section concerning the coaching of autism children in the scale, while the attitude of the teacher candidates to participate in the indicated opinions, consists of seven degree likert type substances. In the study, the t-test statistical method for independent samples was used to determine whether the attitude and level of knowledge of the teacher candidates created a significant difference according to the characteristics of the candidates. Research findings have found that teachers’ attitudes towards children with autism spectrum disorder vary according to the status of learning about autism. There is no difference in the attitudes of teachers candidates according to the class level, the variables of working with autistic children and taking special education classes. In the study’s level of knowledge, the teacher’s candidate’s information on autism is generally not sufficient. The teaching candidates have been found to have false information in the information form, especially about six subjects.