Overview
Psychology 478: Autism Spectrum Disorder is a three-credit, senior-level course that is designed to develop familiarity with a variety of topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Issues related to etiology, diagnosis, characteristics of autism, and treatment models are presented.
Autism is an early-onset neurodevelopmental disorder. A person receives a diagnosis of ASD when they have a combination of atypical responses in categories relating to social interaction, communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviours. Many people on the autism spectrum face significant challenges with daily living, relationship building and maintenance, emotion awareness and regulation, and both verbal and nonverbal communication. Many also have problems with motor coordination and fine motor control to produce speech or certain sequences of movements. Other areas of difficulty may include problems with sensory regulation, sleep, attention, and executive function abilities.
The overall goal of this course is to provide you with an understanding of ASD and best practices in treatment. Given that the prevalence of ASD (if broadly defined) is 1 in 50 children, professionals and para-professionals in a variety of fields will encounter children, youth, and adults with ASD. Having this foundational understanding of ASD will enhance your skills and build capacity for successful interactions and outcomes.
Outline
PSYC 478 comprises fourteen units:
- Unit 1 – Overview
- Unit 2 – Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs)
- Unit 3 – Working with Families
- Unit 4 – Environmental Measures
- Unit 5 – Applied Behaviour Analysis
- Unit 6 – Communication
- Unit 7 – Social Skills
- Unit 8 – Daily Living Skills (DLSs)
- Unit 9 – Academic Skills
- Unit 10 – Play-Focused Interventions
- Unit 11 – Technology
- Unit 12 – Motor Considerations
- Unit 13 – Sexuality
- Unit 14 –Transitions
Learning outcomes
After completing PSYC 478, you should be able to do the following:
- Explain the characteristics, diagnosis, and theorized etiologies of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- Discuss evidence-based practices and the different interventions available for individuals with ASD to assess their efficacy.
- Describe the effect ASD can have in families throughout their lifespan, and identify ways to support the family.
- Describe functional behaviour analysis and how antecedents and consequences influence behaviour.
- Discuss common characteristics associated with ASD in the areas of communication, socialization, daily living, play, motor development, sexuality, and academics.
- Discuss the use of assistive technology for individuals with ASD.
- Describe evidence-based planning practices to promote successful transition to adulthood.
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 478, you must complete all the assignments, achieve a grade of at least 50% on each graded assignment, and achieve an overall composite course grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of assignments is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Planning Activity | 0% |
| Case Study | 25% |
| Participation in the Discussion Forum (5 Topics) | 20% |
| Reflective Journals (5) | 55% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Boutot, A. E. (2017). Autism Spectrum Disorders: Foundations, characteristics, and effective strategies (2nd ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
Other Resources
All other learning resources will be available online.