CONT912: Teaching Autistic Students (formerly Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder)
Equitable and inclusive education for autistic students begins with deep listening, critical reflection, and a commitment to challenge assumptions. This course explores evidence-informed, neurodiversity-affirming approaches to teaching autistic students, centring autistic voices, experiences, and scholarship. You will examine historical and evolving definitions of autism, Indigenous perspectives and decolonized models of autism, and the limitations of deficit-based models. Through readings, discussions, and case-based activities, you will evaluate interventions, develop capacity to collaborate with families and professionals, and design strength-based learning environments aligned with BC Ministry of Education policy. Emphasis is on supporting students’ communication, regulation, agency, and well-being. By course end, you will be equipped with practical strategies for and a deeper understanding of how to foster belonging, provide responsive support, and prepare meaningful IEPs for autistic students across diverse educational contexts.
Learning Outcomes
What You Will Learn and Do
In this course you’ll have the opportunity to
- examine the evolving concept of autism and the autistic experience in historical, scientific, Indigenous, ministry, and autistic community contexts
- confront what autism is not, through debunking of myths, stereotypes, and pseudoscience
- consider models of disability and the neurodiversity paradigm to identify barriers autistic people face in education and society, including ableism
- design solutions to barriers including cultivation of neurodiversity-affirming practices
- investigate service providers, organizations, and professionals in and beyond school districts, and examine their roles and scopes of practice in collaboratively supporting autistic students
- review and select appropriate resources to inform and enrich the support of autistic students
- devise holistic and neurodiversity-affirming strategies to support learning, communication, health, well-being, and social development in autistic students
- generate neuro-affirming strength-based IEPs and transition planning using case studies and personal experience
- design a presentation relevant to your professional context and interest
Assessments
Module 1
Evolving Concepts of Autism and the Neurodiversity Paradigm
Module 2
Defining Disability and Barriers in BC Education Context
Progress Update 1
Module 3
Collaborating with Teams to Provide Effective Support
Module 4
Neuro-Affirming Strategies to Support Learning, Communication, and Regulation
Formative Assessment
Module 5
Fostering Well-Being and Belonging
Progress Update 2
Module 6
Program and Transition Planning
Module 7
Leading the Way in Advocacy and Inclusion
Summative Assessment