Introduction To Autism Spectrum Disorders

Description

This first course in our four-course series "Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders in General Education Classrooms" is focused on introducing you to autism. The more you learn the more valuable you become to both children with autism spectrum disorder as well as those who are typically developing in your classroom. This is an opportunity to gain the tools necessary to make a positive impact on children with special needs, helping them succeed in the classroom and beyond.

Objectives

• You will gain a better understanding of autism. Here, you will learn what autism is, its history, myths and misconceptions, as well as helpful terminology.
• You will understand why understanding autism is important to you as a teacher. You will learn how to make your classrooms more inclusive and take a closer look at what the law requires of you. You will find research that supports the need to raise our educational bar to include children with autism spectrum disorder and make the connection that academic success is directly related to behavioral maturity. And as a teacher, you have a professional responsibility to provide students with a safe and caring learning environment.
• You will discover the various characteristics of autism, including how to communicate, understand behavior, sensory sensitivities, and sensory integration. You will also learn the term "executive function" and why it’s particularly important for success in the classroom.
• You will spend time learning to make your classroom more inclusive with concepts like Universal Design for Learning, making accommodations for children with autism spectrum disorder and your classroom structure.

This course contains:

• 1 hour of learning. Each course is broken into four 15 minute lessons, perfect for self-paced learning that fits your schedule.
• Interactive activities and visuals to increase learning.
• Real-world scenarios to help you apply the knowledge, tools, and strategies quickly in your classroom.
• Additional educational resources to keep the learning going.
• A downloadable Certification of Completion! Upon completing a course, a personalized Certificate of Completion is provided as proof of participation. Some professionals may earn continuing education or professional development hours with this document -- check with your employer or professional organization!