ED4U022 - Autism: Contexts and Concepts 01 Sep 2019 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: ED4U022
Module Title: Autism: Contexts and Concepts
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Professional Learning in Education
Faculty Sub Group: Social Work
Module Leader: Yasmeen Multani, Elsa Torres
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2017 Final Year of Intake: 2022
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100459 - education studies
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2019
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

For students to evaluate the development of current theories of autism and explore the implications of these for autistic individuals, families and practitioners.

To deepen student knowledge and understanding of the sensory perceptual differences of autism and consider the ways in which these may give rise to a different way of being in the world.

For students to critically reflect on personal and professional experiences of living and learning across the lifespan for those who are on the autism spectrum.

Content Summary

1. Making sense of the autism spectrum

- biological, psychological and sociocultural theories of autism

- personal, parental and professional perspectives and discourses

- autism across the lifespan

2. Autistic perception, situated learning and individual development

- sensory perceptual issues in autism

- autism and play

- personal accounts of growing up with autism

3. Autism and gender

- autism in females

- gender bias in theories of autism

- autism and gender identity

4. Online communities and autistic expression

- neurodiversity as an emancipatory construct

- autistic sociality and autistic space

- autism as a culture

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 25
Seminar 5
Tutorial 1
Independent Study 200
Directed Study 69
Total Hours Selected 300

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To critically analyse and evaluate developments in theory, policy, processes and practice in relation to autism education and support in order to generate new knowledge and understanding.
LO2 To critically consider issues relating to the description, definition, classification and assessment of the autism spectrum including a critical engagement with ongoing debates about labelling.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Portfolio Portfolio 1 Either an essay which uses existing literature to produce a coherent argument on a topic. Title to be negotiated with tutor beforehand (5000) OR a personal reflection on ‘A Day in the Life’ of an autistic person. Information for this gathered from meeting an autistic person and/or from reading personal accounts, and presented in the form of a reflective journal with possible use of annotated images. Links should be made with theories and concepts that have been discussed in class (5000 or the equivalent). 0 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Runswick-Cole, K., Mallett, R. and Timimi, S. (eds.) (2016) Re-Thinking Autism: Diagnosis, Identity and Equality, London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Silberman, S. (2015) Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter about People Who Think Differently, London: Allen and Unwin.

Waltz, M. (2013) Autism: A Social and Medical History, Basingstoke, Hamps. and New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Conn, C. (2016) Play and Friendship in Inclusive Autism Education: Supporting Learning and Development, Abingdon, Oxon. and New York: Routledge.

Hendrickx, S. (2015) Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age, London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

O’Reilly, M. and Lester, J. N. (2015) The Palgrave Handbook of Child Mental Health: Discourse and Conversation Studies, Basingstoke, Hamps. and New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Wexler, A. (2016) Autism in a Decentered World, New York and London: Routledge.