New resources on

the autism spectrum

free on the Internet

Dr. Glenys Jones

ACER, University of Birmingham
July 6th 2010
g.e.jones@bham.ac.uk
Changing terminology

Autism
Asperger syndrome (1981)
High functioning autism
Autism spectrum disorder (1996)
Autism spectrum condition (2007)
Autism spectrum (2007-8)
TWO resources on the autism
spectrum free on the Internet
Early Years for all those working with
children under the age of 5 years

Primary and Secondary Mainstream

schools
Early Years Resource on the
autism spectrum
EYFS Themes

A Unique Child
Positive Relationships
Enabling Environments
Learning and Development
Early Years Autism Resource:
three formats, as follows

1. Booklet

2. DVD which can be copied

3. Website

(Note: Contents of the DVD and the website

are exactly the same)
Contents of the DVD and website

Video clips presented to enable

practitioners to reflect on their own
practice
Activities : Pause for Thought/ Time to
Talk/ and Time for Group Work.
Resources references
Four children given as case studies to
bring material alive
Primary and Secondary Autism
Spectrum Resource: two formats

DVD with a short booklet

Website
Who is it for?
For all teaching staff
For student teachers
For parents/carers
For lunchtime staff, drivers, others in
contact with the children
who have little or no knowledge of
the autism spectrum
Shared responsibility
Commitment/expertise/workload/
satisfaction needs to be shared
throughout the school
DVD and web-based resources
Free access anywhere in the world via
Internet
DVDs can be copied and given to all
staff and parents
Internet access: instructions
Google idp autism
Find the link to the
Primary and Secondary Inclusion
Development Programme
Click on the Autism resource
Register with your email address and
you will be given a password
Contents of the resource
Guidance for trainers/facilitators
Video clips of: teaching staff, outreach
staff, parents, children, young adults
Downloadable resources to print off
Links to other websites (eg DCSF and
autism sites)
Content of Units 1 to 4
Eight units in total:

1 What is the autism spectrum?

2 Social and emotional understanding
3 Communication and language
4 Flexibility of thought and behaviour
Content of Units 5 to 8

5 Sensory perception and responses

6 Know the pupil
7 Curriculum priorities and inclusive
practice
8 Sources of support (internal and
external)
Key messages
Difference not deficit or disorder
Diverse needs: ONE child on the autism
spectrum will not have the SAME needs as
others on the autism spectrum
Staff need to get to know the individual pupil
and what s/he needs read the child as well
as the books on autism
It is not an alternative to specialist advice, but
complementary to this
How can the Resource be used?
Individual study a person can go through
the resource on their own to increase skills

As a training tool where a person facilitates

the learning of others in a Group take an
audit of need and work through the materials

For the PS resource, there is Guidance for

trainers in each of the 8 units
Key resources within the Primary
and Secondary Resource
Self evaluation checklist what do
you know at the start and finish?
School effectiveness checklist how
effective is the WHOLE school?
Sensory profile on a pupil
Sensory audit of the school
Skills and behaviour checklist
Resource for health care
professionals
TheNHS in Scotland has developed a
website on the autism spectrum for all
those who work in health (eg GPs,
nurses, dentists, hospital staff). This can
be accessed free at:

www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/asd
Autism Education Trust

Set up in 2007 by the DCSF to guide and

inform policy and practice in education
Has a Steering Group and Advisory groups to
represent all stakeholders
Website www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk
Key role is to collate and disseminate good
practice throughout England
Websites on diagnosis

NationalAutism Plan for Children

(NAPC) (see www.nas.org.uk) or IDP
resource_
SIGN (see www.sign.ac.uk)
Useful books on understanding and
managing behaviour

Clements, J (2005) People with autism

behaving badly, London: Jessica Kingsley

Clements,J and Zarkowska, E (2000)

Behavioural concerns and autistic spectrum
disorders, London: Jessica Kingsley

Whitaker, P (2001) Challenging behaviour

and autism, London: NAS