Training Title:
Retired ~ Autism Spectrum – The Personal Experience

Clock Hours: 1.5

Objectives:
At the completion of this program, participants should be able to: • Identify some of the thoughts of people with autism – that is, the ‘inside’ life of such individuals, one that professionals had previously believed was non-existent. o Thoughts about the possible contributors to (causes of) the autistic experience/behaviors (not necessarily causes of autism) o Thoughts about the sensory experiences and sensory processing difficulties of many people with autism o Thoughts about empathy, emotions and social skills/interaction • Recognize jargon (words) used by people in the autism community to refer to themselves and to those who do not have autism. • Recognize the range and diversity of experience and thought, growing up and as adults, of people with autism.

Description:
This is course is for those of us in the behavioral health field who are likely to be taught or have been taught about the autism spectrum by professional providers and researchers only. We may find the observations and commentary about life with autism from those who live that life, either as people with autism or as parents and caregivers, informative. There are differences in perspective, explanations and actions taken to help a person with autism – between some people with autism, some parents and professionals. We might challenge some of our own stereotypes in the process of learning the perspective of those living with and in autism. We may or may not agree with these perspectives, but it should benefit us as providers to have at least some awareness of them Keywords: Article, Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Asperger’s, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ASD, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, PDD, autie, aspie, Skypek

Approval Bodies