Content Outline

I am considering signing up for this online course offered by the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I have taken two online courses with them before to renew my teaching certification, but this time the decision is much more personal. My son is only four years old and will be enrolled in Pre-K next school year.  After consulting different specialists last summer and doing my own reading, I’ve determined that he is on the borderline of the autism spectrum. There’s a lot of online information that describe autism, autism spectrum disorders. But because there is such a wide range of manifestations and varying degrees of severity of symptoms, the information can be overwhelming and confusing.

If we live in the States we would have access to the services of professionals like a physical/occupational therapist who is an expert in young children who are hypersensitivity to textures (clothes and food), or a specialist in pragmatic language. But we don’t because we live in Lagos, Nigeria. Even though I count ourselves blessed to find an American speech-language pathologist who spent some time with J, she was not planning to work and thus did not bring her resources when they moved to Lagos. She also admitted to not being an expert of pre-schoolers, a difficult age. But she is continuing with her own education and has recently decided to take classes in ASD.

Because the course was designed for educators, guidance counselors, speech-language pathologists and other professionals who deal with children in Pre-K to Grade 12, I will be able to learn from the experiences and perspectives not only of the teacher, but the other students in this class. I can only read so much books and online references. The school where I teach has also blessed us with a special ed teacher whose own son has similar sensory integration issues as mine. And my sister-in-law is an early childhood teacher who has a teenage son with Asperger and a pre-schooler who is language delayed. They have been great for moral support and experts by their own right. But I need to talk to more people, more professionals and joining the online class is much cheaper than the regular consultation fee in the States.

I already know I will enjoy this class and like the textbook — if I could find a way to purchase it.

http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/autism.cfm

1. Introduction – What is Autism
2. Language Skills and Communication Interventions
3. Social Skills of Students with ASD and Interventions in the Inclusive Classroom
4. Sensory Needs and Interventions for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
5. Positive Behavior Support for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Inclusive Classroom
6. Programming in the General Education Classroom for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Least Restrictive Environment Issues
7. Working with Parents of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
8. Applying New Knowledge and Strategies

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