Abstract:

In the study, the special education teaching department aims to identify the metaphors developed by teachers candidates for individuals with high-functional autism spectrum disorder. The phenomenological methods of research have been used. The research participants were formed by 23 teachers candidates who took the High-Function Autism Spectrum Disorder Training course, which was opened for the first time in the 2019-2020 educational year and signed an informed voluntary approval form. The data of the study "High-functional autism spectrum disorder for me ....... It is like because... It is.” It is written in an open form. The candidates were asked to focus on a single metafor and write their thoughts. The data is analyzed using the content analysis technique. The findings have shown that teachers candidates have developed 20 metaphors about individuals with high-function autism spectrum disorder. The metaphors developed are collected in 7 categories. The study found that teachers candidates with high-function autism spectrum disorders most similar to concepts such as snow, space, book, labyrinth. The result is that the teaching candidates’ perceptions towards individuals with high-functional autism spectrum disorder are positive.