Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

Based on current research and literature, this course identifies the characteristics of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and provides knowledge of cognition and neurology as well as the core challenges associated with ASD and their implications for program planning and service delivery. Topics include: language and verbal/nonverbal communication, social skills, behavior, and auditory/visual/sensory processing. Roles and responsibilities of various service providers involved in the education and support of students with ASD are explored as well as skills and strategies for effective collaboration with a variety of teams, service providers, and families.