Autism: Providing Professional Support for Individuals and Families

Catalog description

This course emphasizes the professional development for students planning to pursue careers in the field of autism. Topics include the stresses and needs of families and siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), vocational and social challenges faced as individuals with ASD age into adolescence and adulthood, and techniques to aid parents in becoming effective advocates for their child's academic, social, and behavioral needs. Although the core symptomatology of ASD and empirically validated interventions are covered as foundational knowledge, these topics are not be the focus of this course. Rather, this course identifies the challenges and strengths likely to be encountered in the lives of families and individuals with ASD and provides current best practices to help clients navigate life with ASD.