CONT812: Teaching Students with Communication Needs (Autism Spectrum Disorders)
This course, Teaching Students with Communication Needs (Autism Spectrum Disorder), focuses on the development and the implementation of program design for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
It explores the biases, myths and assumptions related to this diagnosis. In turn, it allows you to explore how to create programming that supports diversity and inclusivity. This course also reviews the diagnostic criteria surrounding ASD and the continuum associated with this diagnosis. It examines neurodiversity in the classroom and your roles and responsibilities to establish inclusivity in your classroom. It also looks at the characteristics associated with ASD and how you can cultivate the learning environment to support the ASD learner.
You will have the opportunity to create lessons and assessments for the ASD learner, as well as develop a student profile and IEP with a DI and UDI lens. In addition, there is an opportunity to identify the importance of collaborating with school-based teams and community personnel to support the educational and developmental needs of students with ASD.
Learning Outcomes
What You Will Learn and Do
In this course, you’ll have the opportunity to
- analyze, interpret and implement Ontario’s curriculum, school board polices, frameworks, strategies and guidelines
- understand what Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is and its characteristics by exploring theories of neurodiversity, inclusion and culturally responsive pedagogy
- develop an awareness of First Nations, Metis and Inuit perspectives and ways of knowing, as well as anti-racism and anti-oppression in relation to specific biases and assumptions related to ASD
- develop lessons that show how to create and sustain safe, healthy, equitable and inclusive learning environments that honour and respect diversity and specific student learning strengths and needs
- identify ways to collaborate with in-school personnel, parents/guardians and the community
- practice collecting data and using that data to influence program design to help facilitate learning environments that are conducive to the overall development of the student
Assessments
Module 1
Roles and Responsibilities
Module 2
Biases, Assumptions and Myths
Progress Update 1
Module 3
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
Module 4
Learning Environments for ASD
Progress Update 2
Module 5
Assessment and Evaluation Design
Module 6
Collaboration and Interactivity
Progress Update 3
Module 7
Final Thoughts and Assignment
Final Report