Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 3133; Psychology 3133
Autism
Credits: 3
Spring 2023
Class: Wednesdays & Fridays 11:10-12:25pm
Location: Bell Hall, Room 109
CONTACT INFORMATION
Course Instructor: Dr. Gregory Wallace
Campus Address: Room 211, Hall of Government, 2115 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
Telephone: 202.994.8285
e-mail: gwallac1@gwu.edu
Office hours: by appointment
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
Sue Fletcher Watson & Francesca Happé - [AUT] Autism: A New Introduction to Psychological
Theory and Current Debate.
John Elder Robison - [LME] Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s
[PDF] Selected Readings - These materials will be placed on the course Blackboard site
(http://blackboard.gwu.edu). You are responsible for all information posted on the site.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will explore various facets of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In addition to clinical
aspects of ASD, such as assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, the course will focus on
epidemiology, etiology, developmental factors, and both neural and cognitive features of ASD.
Throughout, ASD will also be placed in the broader sociocultural context of disabilities and
disability rights and viewed from a neurodiversity perspective.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will:
identify characteristics
of atypical cognitive
development;
describe state of the
science on
epidemiology, etiology,
developmental course,
assessment, and
intervention for ASD;
name the hallmark
features of ASD;
illustrate the DSM-5
diagnostic criteria for
ASD;
examine and evaluate
the pros of the
neurodiversity
movement and the
social model of
disability;
create social scenarios
to aid in understanding
social rules and norms;
determine the value of
a 1st person perspective
in better understanding
ASD
Quizzes
Midterm
Exam
Case
Description
Social
Stories
Reflection
Paper
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Amount of independent, out-of- class, learning expected per week: (GW policy): For each
credit hour (i.e., every 50 minutes of direct instruction), students are expected to spend a
minimum of 100 minutes on out-of-class work. Therefore, this 3-credit course should include
2.5 hours of direct instruction and a minimum of 5 hours of independent learning outside of
class per week. More information about GW’s credit hour policy can be found at:
(http://bulletin.gwu.edu/university-regulations/).
Learning the content of this course will require that students demonstrate knowledge and
comprehension (approximately 60% of assessments), ability to apply material (20% of
assessments), as well as analyze, evaluate, and synthesize/construct information (20% of
assessments).
COURSE POLICIES
Class preparation: Students are expected to complete all assignments such as readings and
prior to the start of class.
Course grading: The course will require students to:
(i)
complete 4 multiple choice/short answer quizzes assessing basic concepts about all
facets of ASD (10 points each [Total: 40 points]). Quizzes will not be cumulative,
covering only the material after the last quiz. Quizzes will be administered in the
FIRST 15-30 minutes of class. Dates are identified on the syllabus.
(ii)
complete a midterm exam assessing basic concepts about all facets of ASD (20
points);
(iii)
create a case description (20 points) by systematically applying DSM-5 ASD criteria
(organized by using parts A-E of DSM-5 criteria as headings) to behaviors
displayed/described in the HBO Temple Grandin biopic (viewed on your own). The
grading rubric for this task can be found on Blackboard.
(iv)
formulate 5 social stories (each 4-10 sentences in length) based around
scenarios/topics/events that might arise for individuals with ASD in daily life (10
points). The grading rubric for this task can be found on Blackboard.
(v)
write a reflection paper (10 points) by answering the following question (in 3-5
double-spaced pages): In your opinion, what added value does a firstperson/autobiographical perspective lend to our understanding of autism spectrum
disorder? Utilize various (at least 5) examples from Look Me in the Eye (LME) to
support your case. The grading rubric for this task can be found on Blackboard.
A 94-100
B 84-86
C 74-76
D 64-66
A- 90-93
B- 80-83
C- 70-73
D- 60-63
B+ 87-89
C+ 77-79
D+ 67-69
F < 60
COURSE SCHEDULE
1. Wed., Jan 18: Course Intro and Orientation; Pretest
2. Fri., Jan 20: What is ASD?, Reading: AUT Ch. 1 & 3
3. Wed., Jan 25: Normative Brain & Cognitive Development, Reading: AUT Ch. 5; PDFs
4. Fri., Jan 27: History of ASD, Reading: AUT Ch. 2
5. Wed., Feb 1: Epidemiology: ASD Epidemic?, Reading: LME Ch. Prologue, 1, 2
6. Fri., Feb 3: Etiology: Genetic and Environmental Influences Reading: AUT Ch. 4; LME Ch. 3, 4
7. Wed., Feb 8: QUIZ #1 & DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder & Social Communication Disorder I,
Reading: PDFs; LME Ch. 5, 6
8. Fri., Feb 10: DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder & Social Communication Disorder II, Reading: PDFs;
LME Ch. 7, 8
9. Wed., Feb 15: Language in ASD (TA Lecture), Reading: LME Ch. 9, 10
10. Fri., Feb 17: No Class; View HBO Temple Grandin Biopic on your own
11. Wed., Feb 22: QUIZ #2
12. Fri., Feb 24: Brain Development in ASD, Reading: PDF; LME Ch. 11, 12
13. Wed., Mar 1: Theory of Mind/Social Cognition in ASD, Reading: AUT Ch. 6; LME Ch. 13, 14; CASE
DESCRIPTION SUBMITTED VIA BLACKBOARD BY 5PM
14. Fri., Mar 3: Early Development in ASD, Reading: AUT Ch. 7; LME Ch. 15, 16
15. Wed., Mar 8: Intellectual Functioning & Weak Central Coherence, Reading: AUT Ch. 8; LME Ch. 17,
18
16. Fri., Mar 10: Executive Functioning in ASD, Reading: AUT Ch. 9; PDF; LME Ch. 19, 20
Wed. & Fri., Mar 15 & 17: No Class: Spring Break
17. Wed., Mar 22: Comorbid Conditions: ADHD, Anxiety, Genetic Syndromes, Reading: PDF; LME Ch. 21,
22
18. Fri., Mar 24: MID-TERM EXAM; Special Abilities in ASD, Reading: PDF
19. Wed., Mar 29: Asperger Disorder & Neurodiversity, Reading: AUT Ch. 10; PDFs; LME Ch. 23, 24
20. Fri., Mar 31: ASD as a Lifelong Disorder, Reading: PDF; LME Ch. 25, 26
21. Wed., Apr 5: Diagnosis & Assessment of ASD, Reading: PDF; LME Ch. 27, 28
22. Fri., Apr 7: ASAN Guest Lecture, Reading: LME Ch. 29, Epilogue
23. Wed., Apr 12: QUIZ #3 & Sensory Processing and Food Selectivity, Reading: PDF
24. Fri., Apr 14: Treatment & Intervention in ASD, Reading: PDF
25. Wed., Apr 19: Sex Assigned at Birth, Gender, and Sexual Identity in Autism, Reading: PDF
26. Fri., Apr 21: Camouflaging & Compensation in Autism, Reading: PDF
27. Wed., Apr 26: No Class; Review How to Write Social Stories slides from Blackboard on your own
28. Fri., Apr 28: QUIZ #4 & SOCIAL STORIES SUBMITTED VIA BLACKBOARD
29. Mon., May 8**: No Class; REFLECTION PAPER SUBMITTED VIA BLACKBOARD BY NOON/12PM
**NOTE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIVERSITY POLICY, THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE GIVEN DURING THE
FINAL EXAM PERIOD AND NOT THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Academic Integrity Code
Academic integrity is an essential part of the educational process, and all members of the GW
community take these matters very seriously. As the instructor of record for this course, my role is to
provide clear expectations and uphold them in all assessments. Violations of academic integrity occur
when students fail to cite research sources properly, engage in unauthorized collaboration, falsify data,
and otherwise violate the Code of Academic Integrity. If you have any questions about whether or not
particular academic practices or resources are permitted, you should ask me for clarification. If you are
reported for an academic integrity violation, you should contact the Office of Student Rights and
Responsibilities (SRR) to learn more about your rights and options in the process. Consequences can
range from failure of assignment to expulsion from the university and may include a transcript notation.
For more information, please refer to the SRR website (https://studentconduct.gwu.edu/academicintegrity), email rights@gwu.edu, or call 202-994-6757.
University policy on observance of religious holidays
Students must notify faculty during the first week of the semester in which they are enrolled in the
course, or as early as possible, but no later than three weeks prior to the absence, of their intention to
be absent from class on their day(s) of religious observance. If the holiday falls within the first three
weeks of class, the student must inform faculty in the first week of the semester. For details and policy,
see “Religious Holidays” at provost.gwu.edu/policies-procedures-and-guidelines.
Use of Electronic Course Materials and Class Recordings
Students are encouraged to use electronic course materials, including recorded class sessions, for
private personal use in connection with their academic program of study. Electronic course materials
and recorded class sessions should not be shared or used for non-course related purposes unless
express permission has been granted by the instructor. Students who impermissibly share any electronic
course materials are subject to discipline under the Student Code of Conduct. Please contact the
instructor if you have questions regarding what constitutes permissible or impermissible use of
electronic course materials and/or recorded class sessions. Please contact Disability Support Services at
disabilitysupport.gwu.edu if you have questions or need assistance in accessing electronic course
materials.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Writing Center
GW’s Writing Center cultivates confident writers in the University community by facilitating
collaborative, critical, and inclusive conversations at all stages of the writing process. Working alongside
peer mentors, writers develop strategies to write independently in academic and public
settings. Appointments can be booked online at gwu.mywconline.
Academic Commons
Academic Commons provides tutoring and other academic support resources to students in many
courses. Students can schedule virtual one-on-one appointments or attend virtual drop-in sessions.
Students may schedule an appointment, review the tutoring schedule, access other academic support
resources, or obtain assistance at academiccommons.gwu.edu.
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM
Disability Support Services (DSS) 202-994-8250
Any student who may need an accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability should
contact Disability Support Services at disabilitysupport.gwu.edu to establish eligibility and to coordinate
reasonable accommodations.
Counseling and Psychological Services 202-994-5300
GW’s Colonial Health Center offers counseling and psychological services, supporting mental health and
personal development by collaborating directly with students to overcome challenges and difficulties
that may interfere with academic, emotional, and personal success. healthcenter.gwu.edu/counselingand-psychological-services.
Safety and Security
• Monitor GW Alerts and Campus Advisories to Stay Informed before and during an emergency
event or situation
• In an emergency: call GWPD/EMeRG 202-994-6111 or 911
• For situation-specific actions: refer to GW's Emergency Response Handbook and Emergency
Operations Plan
• In the event of an armed Intruder: Run. Hide. Fight.