University of Washington

College of Education – Area of Special Education

Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

Instructors: Elizabeth A. West Jody Pirtle

Catalyst Website: https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/eawest/27322/

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

(note: Please email both instructors when corresponding and any e-mail sent to the instructors
must contain the course code {Edspe 435} in the subject line)

Office Hours: Available for real-time chat by appointment through e-mail

Course Structure
This 10-week course will be offered in an online format. Content includes a series of readings,
interactive activities, assignments, discussions, and quizzes.

Course Description
The purpose of this class is to provide students with an overview of the characteristics, causes,
treatments, and controversies related to students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This
course is designed to be a first introduction to ASD. Information about the history of the
disorder, assessment strategies, and types of interventions will be addressed. We will provide
information about a variety of interventions including educational, social, and bio-medical. We
will also cover issues of how having a child with ASD affects families, schools, and
communities. Finally, we will explore the complexities of providing appropriate programs for
children with ASD and their families who have multiple risk factors (e.g., cultural and linguistic
diversity, those who live in poverty, recent immigrants).

Specifically, this course will focus on several main areas which have been organized into
modules:
• Module 1: Introduction and Historical Overview
• Module 2: Prevalence and Causes
• Module 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Issues
• Module 4: Social Characteristics and Effective Interventions
• Module 5: Communication Characteristics and Effective Interventions
• Module 6: Cognitive, Behavioral Characteristics and Effective Interventions
• Module 7: Motor, Sensory, Adaptive Characteristics and Effective Interventions
• Module 8: Family Service, Supports and Lifespan Issues
• Module 9: Effective Teams and Placement
• Module 10: Public Policies and Legal Requirements

Course Objectives
Course objectives are derived from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Professional
Standards for Special Education Teachers of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and/or
Autism. The following standards will be addressed throughout this course:

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 University of Washington
College of Education – Area of Special Education
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

CEC Professional Standards:

Students with have knowledge of:
1. Models, theories, philosophies, and research methods that form the basis for special
education practice (ICC1K1)
2. Rights and responsibilities of individuals with exceptional learning needs, parents,
teachers, and other professionals, and school related to exceptional learning needs
(ICC1K4)
3. Family systems and the role of families in the educational process (ICC1K7)
4. Historical points of view and contribution of culturally diverse groups
5. Definitions and issues related to the identification of individuals with developmental
disabilities (DD1K1)
6. Continuum of placement and services available for individuals with developmental
disabilities (DD1K2)
7. Trends and practices in the field of developmental disabilities (DD1K4)

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:
• Identify and describe characteristics of ASD
• Discuss the history (causes and myths about the causes) of ASD
• Explain the assessment and diagnostic process for ASD
• List characteristics of effective interventions across the areas of cognitive,
social/behavior, communication, sensory, motor, and adaptive
• Understand family dynamics associated with raising a child who has a diagnosis of ASD
(parent and family supports, siblings, stress)

Required Text
Available in digital or print format from the UW Bookstore.
Boutot, A. & Myles, B. (Eds.). (2011). Autism Spectrum Disorders. Prentice Hall.

Additional required readings will be provided on Catalyst.

Policies
1. Assignment policy: Assignments will be time sensitive; they will be available for a
limited amount of time in which the students can complete them. All assignments are due
by 11:59 PM on the dates indicated. Any assignment turned in late without prior approval
from an instructor may be reduced by 25% of the total points possible.
2. Policies regarding expected classroom behaviors: Students are expected to adhere to
standards of appropriate online etiquette. Students are expected to use respectful, person-
first language.

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 University of Washington
College of Education – Area of Special Education
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

3. Policies against plagiarism: All assignments must be the original work of the student.
Plagiarism is a willful act that will not be permitted. Each student is expected to
understand the meaning of plagiarism and demonstrate a high level of academic integrity.
Cutting and pasting directly off a website is considered plagiarism. Simply changing a
few words in a sentence or phrase also constitutes plagiarism. Any instance of plagiarism
may result in an "F" for the course.
4. Course content change policy: Information contained in the course syllabus may be
subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the
instructors.
5. To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services Office at:
206.543.6450 (voice), 206.543.6452 (TTY), 206.685.7264 (fax), or email
at [email protected]. The University of Washington makes every effort to honor
disability accommodation requests. Requests can be responded to most effectively if
received as far in advance of the event as possible, preferably at least 10 days. If you
have a letter from the DS office indicating that you have a disability which requires
academic accommodations, please present the letter to us so we can discuss the
accommodations that you might need in this class.
Requirements

Participation: Class participation is required. Participation is defined as relevant and consistent

contributions in a manner appropriate for an educator. I expect you to participate in all online
activities. The instructors may administratively drop students who do not log on to the class for
two consecutive weeks. If you have trouble with access, or there are problems that prevent you
from logging on and participating in the class, you must write or call the instructors and get in
touch with the appropriate support.

Computer literacy: You are expected to understand the functions of your computer system (e.g.
programs, saving, retrieving, printing, etc.). You are expected to have ‘working’ knowledge and
skills within the online environment. If you have difficulty with Catalyst, you are encouraged to
contact the free helpdesk: http://www.washington.edu/lst/help or [email protected] for assistance.
In addition, you can stop by the lab in Miller Hall (4th floor) for answers to your technical
questions.

Submitting Assignments: All assignments will be submitted via “collect-it” in Catalyst unless
otherwise indicated.

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 University of Washington
College of Education – Area of Special Education
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

Course Outline
The table below is an outline and additional details per module are located in Catalyst.

The modules contain specific elements:

Read It! – Identities the material that should be read for the week
View It! – Identifies the videos that should be watched

Assignments are located under Discuss It! and Do It!:

Discuss It! – Provides you with information to discuss per assignments
Do It! – Activities you are required to do for that week related to the module content

Module 1: Introduction and Historical Overview

Dates: March 26th – 30th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Text: Ch. 1 Module 1 – PPT Discussion Post Media Example

Required Readings in Posted Videos Complete a KWL

Catalyst Chart

Final Module Quiz

Module 2: Prevalence and Causes
Dates: April 2nd – 6th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Required Readings in Module 2 PPT Discussion Post True/False Quiz
Catalyst
Posted Videos Final Module Quiz
Module 3: Assessment and Diagnostic Issues
Dates: April 9th – 13th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Text: Ch. 2 Module 3 PPT Discussion Post Statement

Required Readings in Posted Videos Final Module Quiz

Catalyst
Module 4: Social Characteristics and Effective Interventions
Dates: April 16th – 20th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Text: Ch. 9 Module 4 PPT Discussion Post Case Study

Required Readings in Posted Videos Final Module Quiz

Catalyst

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 University of Washington
College of Education – Area of Special Education
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

Module 5: Communication Characteristics and Effective Interventions

Dates: April 23rd – 6th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Text: Chapters 8 and 12 Module 5 PPT Discussion Post Description of
Communication
Required Readings in Posted Videos Identify
Catalyst Communication
Methods
Discuss and Design
Visuals

Final Module Quiz

Module 6: Cognitive, Behavioral Characteristics and Effective Interventions
Dates: April 30th – May 4, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Text: Ch. 6, 7 and 10 Module 6 PPT Discussion Post Final Module Quiz

Posted Videos

Module 7: Motor, Sensory, Adaptive Characteristics and Effective Interventions

Dates: May 7th – 11th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Text: Ch. 5 and 11 Module 7 PPT Discussion Post Description of
therapies in classroom
Required Readings in Posted Videos
Catalyst Final Module Quiz

Module 8: Family Service, Supports and Lifespan Issues

Dates: May 14th – 18th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Text: Ch. 4 and 13 Module 8 PPT Discussion Post Family support groups

Required Readings in Posted Videos Concept Map

Catalyst
Final Module Quiz

Module 9: Effective Teams and Placement

Dates: May 21st – 25th, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!

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 University of Washington
College of Education – Area of Special Education
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

Required Readings in Module 9 PPT Discussion Post Final Module Quiz

Catalyst
Posted Videos

Module 10: Public Policies and Legal Requirements

Dates: May 28th – June 1st, 2012
Read It! View It! Assignments:
Discuss It! Do It!
Required Readings in Module 10 PPT Discussion Post Case Study
Catalyst
Posted Videos Final Module Quiz

Assignments (rubrics or details are provided for each activity on Catalyst)

Required Assignments Per Module Points Possible Your Score(s)

Module 1:
Media Example 5
KWL Chart 5
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 35
Module 2:
True/False Quiz 5
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 30
Module 3:
Statement 5
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 30
Module 4:
Case Study 5
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 30
Module 5:
Description of Communication 5
Identify Communication Methods 5
Discuss and Design Visuals 10

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 University of Washington
College of Education – Area of Special Education
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 45
Module 6:
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 25
Module 7:
Description of therapies in classroom 5
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 30
Module 8:
Family support groups 5
Concept Map 5
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 35
Module 9:
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 25
Module 10:
Case Study 10
Module Quiz 20
Discussion Post 5
Total = 35
Total Points Possible 320

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 University of Washington
College of Education – Area of Special Education
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDSPE 435 – 5 credits

Grading: There are a total of 320 points available; the breakdown is as follows:

GPA Percent of Points Points

4.0 100-99% 316-320
3.9 98-97% 309-315
3.8 96-95% 303-308
3.7 94-93% 296-302
3.6 92-91% 290-295
3.5 90-89% 284-289
3.4 88-87% 277-283
3.3 86-85% 271-276
3.2 84-83% 264-270
3.1 82-81% 258-263
3.0 80% 255-257
2.9 79% 252-254
2.8 78% 248-251
2.7 77% 245-247
2.6 76% 242-244
2.5 75% 239-241
2.4 74% 236-238
2.3 73% 232-235
2.2 72% 229-231
2.1 71% 226-228
2.0 70% 223-225

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