Autism 101
Once considered a rare disorder, recent studies on autism prevalence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that is far from true. Most of us likely know someone – a friend’s child, a neighbor, a family member, a student – who has been diagnosed. The “phenomenon” of autism seeming to be everywhere leads to many questions: Is it becoming more common? What is it, anyway, and what causes it? Is there a cure? What are some strategies for working with a child who has autism who is already in your early childhood classroom? Autism 101: The Basics, attempts to answer these questions and more. We hope that after taking this course, you are not only more knowledgeable about autism but that you’re inspired by the incredible strengths of this very special group of individuals. This course aligns with CDA Subject Area 8, and it is worth 0.3 CEU's.
Watch this short video to learn more about this class.
Once considered a rare disorder, the most recent study on autism from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 1 in 59 children are living with it. Likely, most of us know someone—a family member, a friend’s child, a neighbor, a student—who has been diagnosed. Autism seems to be everywhere, and most of us are left with lots of questions: What is this disorder? What causes it? Is there a cure? Is it becoming more common? What are some strategies for working with a child in your early childhood classroom who is on the autism spectrum? This course addresses these questions and will help you become more knowledgeable about autism and the people it impacts. This is a three-hour course worth .3 CEUs.
This course can be utilized to meet the training requirements to earn or renew your Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Course content is aligned with the CDA Subject Area 8: Understanding principles of child development and learning.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Deficits in social communication
- Deficits in social interactions
- Restrictive behaviors
- Repetitive behaviors
- Diagnosis
- Causes of autism
- Risk factors of autism
- Myths of autism
Approved for 0.3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in all 50 states.
This course is approved for CEUs in every state. It has also been approved for state training hours in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.
“I will process and assume intelligence for all the children in my care. I will monitor their growth and development closely with assessments and provide assistance and references for parents in the future if their child shows clear signs of being on the spectrum. I will provide support for those parents and families in the event of a child showing risk factors. I will maintain and develop an effective curriculum that is inclusive and provide good grips and fine motor skills as well as encourage and foster social emotional growth.”
-Aleyna A., MI, 2021
“As someone who is a parent to twins with Autism, I learned a lot of new information. While I take on this new path into teaching, my main goal is to focus on special needs when I am ready. The handouts/resources are great, and I downloaded them to print out. Every person with Autism is just that -- a person -- and they should be treated as such. I plan on using the new information to help guide me on taking care of my children and to build off my knowledge base to care for all children that need special care.”
-Tiffany L., OH, 2021
“This was indeed a great course. I have learned a lot of new strategies and will definitely implement in my classroom. First of all, after taking this course, I feel more confident with discussing my observations about my students with our Special Education Department Specialists.”
-Dina P., CA, 2021
“In my classroom, I will make use of this training on Autism and realize that if I've met one student with Autism, then I've met one person with Autism. I realize that students/people have Autism, and they are not Autistic. I also understand that Autism is a developmental disability and not a mental disability. I will use the correct terminology when reviewing or discussing students with appropriate staff by referencing this training. I will work toward making lots of visuals to help the understanding of expectations within my classroom."
-Cara E., TX, 2021
“Before this course, I really had little to no knowledge of what Autism is or how it affects different people. I believe it is a major disservice to society when we set limits on the potential of others... With the tools I’ve been given in this course, I will be more confident and understanding when we have a child with Autism in our care. By being more patient and understanding, I can support all children in reaching their fullest potential.”
-Justice Rosemarie B., NY, 2021