ED4U102 - Supporting Autistic Children, Young People and Adults 15 Feb 2023 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: ED4U102
Module Title: Supporting Autistic Children, Young People and Adults
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Education, Early Years and Social Work
Faculty Sub Group: Professional Learning
Module Leader: Yasmeen Multani, Elsa Torres
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2023 Final Year of Intake:
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 1
Valid From 15 Feb 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

For students to critically examine national and international developments in policy and practice in relation to autism education and support within a variety of settings and contexts.

For students to evaluate the continuum of provision in education and support for people with autism in the light of theories of learning and with reference to important models of disability.

To develop student knowledge, understanding, values and skills in relation to planning, implementing and evaluating holistic approaches to meeting the needs of autistic individuals within a range of contexts.

Content Summary

1. New understandings about best practice in autism education and support

- the concept of ‘intervention’ and the social model of disability

- relevance of theories of learning: behaviourism, cognitivism, situated learning

- atypical development, personalised learning and the ‘eclectic curriculum’

2. Supporting social-emotional development

- Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems model

- social inclusion and the cost of ‘pretending to be normal’

- new ideas about autistic sociality

3. Effective communication for partnership working

- Empathising-Systemising theory and visual language

- communication systems for autistic individuals, parents and practitioners

- technology enhanced learning

4. Assessment, planning and autistic voice

- educational versus medical assessment: observation-based pedagogy and support

- assessment of needs within social and sensory space

- working with voice

- positive behaviour management

Learning and Teaching Methods

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

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To critically analyse and evaluate developments in theory, policy and practice in relation to autism education and support in order to generate new knowledge and understanding.
LO2 To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the transactional nature of difficulty in autism and critical awareness of the key barriers to learning and participation within families, organizations and the wider society.
LO3 To critically evaluate professional practice in relation to education and support for people with autism taking into account current and diverse perspectives on the autism spectrum.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment 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 an observation/video recording of a pupil/client/child in the student’s setting which is analysed for information about influences on behaviour. Students will need to identify significant behaviour to record and identify a valid framework for analysis. Analysis is to be written up together with student reflection on the process of analysis (5000 or the equivalent). 0 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Chown, N. (2017) Understanding and Evaluating Autism Theory, London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Department of Health (2014) ‘Think Autism’ Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives. The strategy for adults with autism in England: an update, London: DoH.

Jordan, R., Hume, K. and Roberts, J. (eds.) (2017) The SAGE Handbook of Autism and Education, London, Los Angeles, Singapore, New Delhi: Sage.

Bogdashina, O. (2016) Sensory Perceptual Issues in Autism and Asperger Syndrome, 2nd ed., London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Prizant, B. (2015) Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism, New York: Simon and Schuster.

Wylie, P., Lawson, W. and Beardon, L. (2016) The Nine Degrees of Autism: A Developmental Model for the Alignment and Reconciliation of Hidden Neurological Conditions, London and New York: Routledge.

Department for Education/Department of Health (2015) Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years, Crown copyright.