"I am a teacher who is blessed to know some amazing young people who teach me more about the world than I can teach them." NAS Supporter
According to recent studies the current prevalence for children on the autism spectrum stands at about 1 in 100 which equates to just under 134,000 children in the UK. This means that if you are not already teaching a child on the autism spectrum you are very likely to do so at some point in your career. As such it is important to have an awareness of autism spectrum disorders and how to implement strategies to enable children on the spectrum to access all aspects of school life and to reach their full potential. (Source: Autism Education Trust)
1. NAS
The NAS website contains a wealth of information for education professionals working with children and young people with autism in the early years, primary, secondary and further education fields. We do not need to recreate that information here, so here is the link to be taken to the relevant part of their site.
2. The Autism Toolbox
The Scottish Government have developed an excellent resource called The Autism Toolbox which is designed to support education authorities, schools and pre schools in the delivery of service and planning for children with autism. There is clear and concise information about autism in section 1, lots of useful straegies to consider in section 2 and an overview of interventions in section 5 which make useful reading for any educational professional.
3. The Autism Education Trust - www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk
A whole website devoted to supporting effective education practice. There are some invaluable teachers tools to download with sample visual supports, schedules, timetables, forms and social stories.
Primary and Secondary Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) - Supporting Pupils on the autistic spectrum
The Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) is part of the UK Goverment's strategy for children with special educational needs.
There is a new interactive online training resource aimed at teachers, teaching assistants, learning support assistants who are working with pupils on the autistic spectrum in mainstream schools. To have a look click here to be redirected to their website - just follow the links and the resource will open in a pop up window.
The document which accompanies the resource can be found here
The Open University OpenLearn Course - free materials
The Open University runs a distance learning course called 'SK124 Understanding the autism spectrum' but they also have an introduction to this included in their free OpenLearn resources called 'The autistic spectrum: from theory to practice' which can be found by clicking here It can be studied at your own pace and takes around 20 hours to complete the module. There is no recognition or certification, but it is useful as a way of increasing your basic theoretical knowledge of autism.
The Open University - SK124 Understanding the Autistic Spectrum
This course provides an accessible introduction to the autistic spectrum, principles and problems of diagnosis, and biological and psychological approaches to explaining underlying causes. Approaches to care, education and therapy, and issues concerning social support, legal rights and well-being of individuals on the autism spectrum are explored. The course is especially relevant to educators, learning support workers and healthcare professionals; parents, siblings, care-givers and able people on the autism spectrum; and all those with an interest in the psychological and health sciences.
It is a level 1 course next running November 2011 - April 2012 and gives 15 credit points at undergraduate level. Click here for more info.
NAS and ICEP Courses - 'Asperger Syndrome Insights and Interventions for Support' and 'Autism: Best Practice Interventions and Support'
The NAS has teamed up with ICEP (Institute of Child Education and Psychology) to provide two online training courses aimed at Education professionals, one focussing on autism and one on Asperger Syndrome. They cost £230 to do but there is a certificate of professional development awarded upon completion.
An NAS pdf can be downloaded here, or details can be found on the ICEP website by clicking here Autism Course Asperger Course