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Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a neurologically based disability causing persons to process information differently. Processing deficits may include input, central processing, and output involving various cognitive processes. ASD primarily impacts communication, verbal and language, socialization, and academics.

These processing deficits may impact a person’s ability to master communication and socialization, which impacts behavior and the ability to benefit from various academic skills, including, basic reading skills, reading fluency, reading comprehension, written expression, math calculation, math problem-solving skills, oral expression, and listening comprehension.

The Special Education Major (K-12) ASD endorsement program is based on the belief that teachers with an ASD endorsement need a firm grounding in the theory of autism and an ability to use that theory to develop individual programs for students, meeting their specific needs. This will be accomplished by a curriculum requiring a rigorous understanding of the theory of learning, from a neurological perspective, coupled with strong field experiences connecting theory to reality. A strong focus will be given to developing both individual student profiles, involving the assessment and analysis of processing and academic skills and a wide repertoire of strategies for direct instruction of skills and collaboration with general education personnel to develop accommodations and modifications.

Upon graduation, students will be competent to assess, analyze assessment data and develop and implement individual education programs, based on a strong theoretical understanding of the nature of autism spectrum disorders.