Course

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Across the Lifespan

Important Notice

This course is not active. Please contact Department Chair for more information.

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Classroom & Community Support
Course code
CCSD 2430
Credits
3.00
Semester length
Flexible delivery ranging over 2 to 15 weeks
Max class size
30
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Hybrid
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course explores Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), its possible etiology, typical characteristics, commonly related issues and co-morbid conditions. It also investigates evidence-based interventions and support strategies across the lifespan.
Course content

The following ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

General overview of development milestones, theories and concepts as they relate to individuals with ASD:

  • Examine development within the context of family and culture
  • Examine the development of individuals with ASD as compared to those with typical development
  • Explore cognitive development including developmental models, transitions and routines, and activities and strategies that promote cognitive development

Describe language acquisition and communication, including:

  • Joint attention, cultural learning and language acquisition
  • Social pragmatic approach to language acquisition
  • Communicative functions, expressive and receptive skills
  • Behaviour as a form of communication
  • Activities and strategies that facilitate and promote language/communication skill development
  • Verbal behaviour theory as it relates to developing language

Describe pyschosocial development in individuals with ASD including:

  • Development of self esteem and self awareness
  • Developing a sense of others including social thinking, theory of mind and central coherence
  • Social/affective signalling
  • The influence/impact of friendship and play
  • Affection

Explore biosocial development in individuals with ASD including the impact in areas such as:

  • Self care
  • Safety
  • Adaptation
  • Activities that promote the development of motor function

Examine diagnostic and treatment modalities including:

  • Co-morbid conditions
  • Mental health issues

Examine the current trends and developments in service provision for teens and adults:

  • Consider treatment modalities for teens and adults
  • Explore ongoing supports including educational opportunities, employment supports and residential options
Learning activities
  • Lecture
  • Guest lecture
  • Video/DVD
  • Case studies
  • Group presentations
Means of assessment
  • Critical research paper
  • Case study
  • Group presentation
  • Observation assignment
Learning outcomes
  1. Explore the etiology of ASD and describe the developmental differences in individuals across the lifespan) including the possible behavioural outcomes associated with those differences.
  2. Describe the range of evidence-based strategies to encourage cognitive, social/emotional, communication/ language and motor skills in individuals with ASD.
  3. Identify current trends and issues related to ASD including diagnosis, funding, education, employment, and community support including mental health and co-morbid conditions.
Textbook materials

TBA

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CCSD 2430
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

Winter 2025