Course Description
Introduction to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Social, behavioral, and other characteristics; evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be assigned additional research-based
readings; discussions and an additional written research
synthesis will be required.
Athena Title
Instructing Children with ASD
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EDSE 4010E or EDSE 6010E
Non-Traditional Format
This class will be conducted in a seminar format. Some parts of most classes will be characterized by lectures, other parts as discussions, still others as problem solving/application.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of Instructing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, the learner will be able to: 1. Identify characteristics of children with ASD, including both “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” students. 2. Compare and contrast students who have ASD and students with intellectual disabilities, emotional behavior disorders, or other diagnoses. 3. Critique the history and appropriateness of applied behavior analysis and other approaches as intervention strategies for children with ASD (e.g., discrete trial instruction, social skills groups, sensory integration therapy). 4. Develop personalized evidence-based strategies to address common behavior problems for children with autism. 5. Generate family-oriented plans to assist children with ASD. 6. Contribute as effective collaborators with families and other professionals to assist children with ASD.
Topical Outline
Week Topic 1 Introduction to autism spectrum disorders 2 Historical perspectives and current knowledge about etiology 3 Autism in our culture: Pop-culture references and problems/benefits of awareness 4 Screening, diagnosis, and other assessments 5 ABA, single case and other research, determining effectiveness of interventions 6 Communication problems and evidence-based interventions 7 Social problems and evidence-based interventions 8 Sensory differences and evidence for sensory-related intervention effectiveness 9 ASD and instructional strategies for academic and functional skills 10 Related problems for children with ASD (e.g., anxiety disorders, ADHD) 11 Family issues 12 Problem behavior: Function-based assessment and intervention 13 Collaboration among professionals (e.g., families, therapists, teachers) 14 Graduate student presentations 15 Final Examination