The autistic spectrum is a complex one, and although it’s not always easy to understand the conditions and disorders that come under it, this course can help dispel myths and raise awareness of one of the disorders, known as Asperger Syndrome. Whether you are a practitioner, parent or carer, or just have an interest in the autistic spectrum, this Asperger Syndrome Awareness Diploma will improve your knowledge and skills in the area.
You’ll leave this course with knowledge of the history of Asperger’s, how it’s defined, and how it differs from other autistic spectrum disorders. Over approximately 12 – 15 hours of learning you’ll look at the biological foundations of Asperger’s, gender differences, and the range of conditions you could have alongside Asperger Syndrome. You’ll also study the therapeutic or educational methods that have successfully been used to support people with Asperger’s.
Why Invest In This Course?
If you complete this course you’ll have an increased awareness of the characteristics, diagnosis, effects and challenges of having Asperger Syndrome, how it affects daily life, and what you can do to offer help and support if you know someone coping with this autistic spectrum disorder.
KEY LEARNING POINTS
Work through the ten modules for a greater understanding of Asperger Syndrome, how it’s diagnosed, and how it affects work, school and daily life for those that live with this condition.
- Work through an overview of Asperger Syndrome and learn how it’s defined.
- Look at research that has been done on Asperger’s and how it’s diagnosed.
- Examine possible genetic and environmental factors that could cause Asperger’s and high functioning autism.
- Look into how medical practitioners make objective decisions on diagnosis, and the use of diagnostic interviews as a tool.
- Examine the effects of Asperger’s, including developmental factors, speech and behavioural issues, and sensory issues, including hypersensitivity.
- Learn about sensory integration disorder and how it affects understanding of the environment.
- Look into different therapies and techniques for coping with Asperger’s including sensory integration therapy to help coordination, and how to deal with aggression and minimise the impact.
- Gain a greater awareness and understanding of how people with Asperger’s view the world.
- Go more in-depth on specific issues affecting young people with Asperger’s, why they might be victims of bullying, a look at inclusion and support in schools, and how you can support a sibling with Asperger’s.
- Following on, examine issues affecting adults with the condition, including why adult women may have Asperger’s but haven’t been diagnosed, and a look at Asperger’s and relationships and parenting.
- Examine Asperger’s in the workplace, including a look at support strategies, disability discrimination, and how attributes of people with Asperger’s can be a positive for employers, if they are given the right role.
- Fame game – find out about famous people with Asperger’s and more about their stories – case studies include Sir Isaac Newton, computer genius Alan Turing, and wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham.
- End the course with a variety of content on supporting people with Asperger Syndrome. Look at social skills training, organisational skills and peer meditation.
ADVANTAGES OF THIS COURSE
- Receive a certificate on successful completion of the course.
- Support is there when you need it through your online learning account.
- Benefit from a full syllabus that will give you a greater understanding of Asperger’s and how you can help people with it in work or daily life.
- Taking this course may improve your prospects when applying for work or volunteer opportunities, where you may come across Asperger Syndrome.
- The opportunity to pass on your knowledge and raise awareness in your local community or online.
- Defining Asperger’s – A definition of Asperger’s.
- Lack of social understanding – Why people with Asperger’s struggle to understand the intent of the other.
- Difficulties with emotions – Why Asperger’s people can’t relate to the emotional content of their interactions and why Mr Spock is a useful metaphor for this.
- Problems with metaphor, literal mindedness – why you should never ask a person with Asperger’s to “pull their socks up’.
- Research into Asperger’s – Research into Asperger’s really is fairly recent, most of it being carried out in the latter half of the 20th century to the present
- How Asperger’s fits Into the Autistic Spectrum – The relationship between Asperger’s, High Functioning Autism and ASD.
- Co-morbidities – People with Asperger’s sometimes have other diagnosable conditions including dyspraxia.
- The Causes of High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s – ASD is highly heritable and there are some possible genetic, environmental factors at work.
- Diagnosis of Asperger’s- How Asperger’s was first diagnosed
- Criteria based diagnosis – An examination of how practitioners decide objectively on a diagnosis
- Diagnostic interview – An alternative tool which includes historical evidence, criteria and an interview
- Precocious development – how people with Asperger’s tend to develop, particularly in the area of mature speech
- Behavioural Issues – How some people with Asperger’s have behavioural issues in school and adult life and many show a lack of empathy
- Sensory Issues – How people with Asperger’s are often hyper or hypo sensitive to environmental stimuli
- Sensory Integration Disorder – A disorder which is caused by different brain functioning and a lack of ability to properly integrate sensory input from all senses into one combined understanding of the environment
- Sensory Integration therapy – A system of techniques generally practiced by OT’s to help a person be better coordinated
- Dealing with aggression in people with Asperger’s – to improve understanding of why people with Asperger’s can get aggressive and how to help minimise the impact
- Understanding theory of mind – An insight into the different world view of people with Asperger’s
- Bullying and Asperger’s – will examine the reasons why young people with Asperger’s may be victims of bullying and what to do about it
- Inclusion and support – Will examine the issues of inclusion in school and how all schools should develop strategies for supporting young people with Asperger’s
- Being a sibling of a person with AS – How to understand and support siblings of people with Asperger’s
- Asperger’s and Women – recent development suggest that there are many adult women with Asperger’s but they have not been diagnosed
- Asperger’s and relationships – Barbara Jacobsen described this as “Loving Mr Spock’; this section will explore many of the issues faced
- Asperger’s and parenting – The possible effects of having one or both parents with Asperger’s
- Strengths and weaknesses – an overview of people with Asperger’s in a work environment
- Support strategies – how employers can get the best out of employees with Asperger’s
- Disability discrimination – what the law says about reasonable adjustments
- Finding the right role – advice on how the attributes of Asperger’s can be “sold’ to potential employers
- Sir Isaac Newton – Physicists and Fellow of The Royal Society probably had Asperger’s and displayed a surprising lack of understanding about the world around him
- Alan Turing – computer genius, mathematician who saved millions of lives in WWII
- Susan Boyle – With the voice of an angel, singing talent Susan Boyle has left the world in amazement at both her talents and her very public meltdowns. Although she is perhaps the most famous talent to have come out of Britain’s Got Talent, her Asperger’s has caused her some very public difficulties
- Chris Packham – The naturalist whose appearances on TV demonstrate the strength of his special interest
- Social Stories – How to teach children to manage unfamiliar and new situations, friendships etc
- Social skills training – An approach and resources for developing generic social skills
- Peer mediation – new thoughts on how neurotypical pupils can help their peers with Asperger’s
- Organisational skills – some tips and practical suggestions on how to help people with Asperger’s be better organised