Understanding and Support for Autism

• • • Changing perspectives on autism: historical vs. contemporary, medical vs. social.
  • • Behavioural presentation of autism from infancy through adulthood.
  • • Diagnostic criteria, tools and processes.
  • • Lifespan support needs for autistic people and their families.
  • • Insights from lived experience, diverse professional practice, and basic science disciplines.

No eligibility requirements

Additional requirements

No additional requirements

In this subject, you will explore the cluster of conditions formally identified under the umbrella term of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD; hereafter, autism) taking both a scientific/medical perspective and a neurodiversity/lived experience and applied perspective. You will explore changing perspectives on what underpins autism, from the first proposed accounts through to contemporary theories. You will consider the presentation of autism and the lived experience and support needs of individuals and their families, right across the lifespan; from neonatal life and very early infancy, right through childhood and adolescence, into adulthood. You will develop knowledge of the condition, including early signs, core features and the tools used for diagnosis, and a range of supports for different aspects of the condition at different life stages. You will explore attitudes and perspectives on autism locally within Victoria, across Australia, and abroad, including community perspectives , media representation, and government policy. You will develop important skills for critically evaluating the wealth of information on autism that exists in the public domain.

(Subject suspended for 2024, runs during odd years) 

• Individual Case Study (1,000-words) (25%)
• Individual evidence-informed blog post (1000-words) (25%)
• Online quizzes (2000-word equivalent) (50%)

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).