Advancing Social Development of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Innovative Humanistic Approaches in Inclusive Education

Abstrak

This study aims to examine the application of a humanistic approach in supporting the social development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in inclusive schools. In a heterogeneous learning environment, an effective pedagogical approach is key to overcoming the behavioral, communication, and social barriers that students with ASD often experience. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that teachers’ implementation of an innovative humanistic approach emphasizing empathy, individual understanding, and a supportive learning environment significantly improved the social interaction abilities of students with ASD. The novelty of this study lies in its focus on how the humanistic approach is applied directly in inclusive classroom practices at the junior high school level, rather than in therapeutic or purely theoretical contexts as in much of the previous research. This perspective reveals that the humanistic approach can be operationalized through daily teaching practices that integrate empathy and individual attention into classroom interactions. The findings not only confirm the importance of a planned and contextualized humanistic approach to advance the social development of children with ASD but also provide practical recommendations for educators and policymakers. By highlighting the unique contribution of embedding humanistic values into real classroom settings, this research expands the discourse on inclusive education and demonstrates how inclusive schools can nurture both academic achievement and holistic social-emotional growth for children with ASD

Kata kunci

• advancing social development
• autistic spectrum disorder
• social behavior