UWA PLUS
Autism: diagnostic features and assessment approaches in older adolescents and adults (17+ years)
Students who undertake this micro-credential will gain the knowledge required to identify key diagnostic features of autism, and distinguish between neurotypical and neurodivergent development in older adolescents and adults (17+ years). They will also understand why an autism diagnosis may have been missed in childhood. The course also identifies and discusses a range of assessment methods and tools that can be used to obtain clinical information required for the autism diagnostic assessment, and considers the importance of this information for autism diagnostic evaluations of adolescents and adults.
Upon successful completion, you'll receive:
- Two PD Points - stackable for unspecified academic credit in award courses
- A Certificate of Achievement
- A UWA Plus Professional Development Transcript, listing all successfully completed micro-credentials
- Delivery mode
- Online
- Start date
- Coming soon (expected April 2023)
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Effort
- 50 hours
- Academic Lead
- Dr Lauren Taylor and Associate Professor Iliana Magiati
- Cost
- $660 inc. GST
- Critical information summary
- PSYCM514 Autism: diagnostic features and assessment approaches in older adolescents and adults [PDF 248KB]
What you'll learn
Identify and explain the reasons for which an autism diagnosis may have been missed in early childhood and the factors that contribute to the ‘later' identification of autism
Identify indicators of, and distinguish between, neurotypical and neurodivergent development and functioning in people aged 17+ years across different domains
Identify and describe key diagnostic features of autism in individuals aged 17+ years
Identify a range of assessment approaches that may be used in autism diagnostic assessments with individuals aged 17+ years
Outline the clinical information that may be gathered from the different assessment approaches and explain why this information is important in diagnostic assessments for autism in older adolescents and adults
Why study this course?
This short course will provide students who are interested in autism assessment and diagnosis with an opportunity to gain a University micro-credential to recognise their learning. It also provides a unique opportunity for a range of professionals to enhance their knowledge of key diagnostic features of autism in childhood.
Recommended prior knowledge
It is recommended that students have English competence (ideally Year 12 English level), and have some direct experience working with children and/ or young people.
Who should study this course?
This micro-credential will be of interest to anyone interested in autism diagnosis, including professionals and other stakeholders who come into contact with children and young people suspected of being autistic, and for whom formal assessment might be warranted.
This includes allied health professionals, such as practicing psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and social workers, as well as medical professionals (e.g., GPs, paediatricians and psychiatrists) who regularly conduct autism assessments in the course of their practice.
What's next after this course?
Students who enrol in all seven of the micro-credentials relating to autism assessment and diagnosis (PSYCM510, PSYCM511, PSYCM512, PSYCM5613, PSYCM514, PSYCM515, and PSYCM516, which comprise the PSYC5520 and PSYC5521 units), may be eligible to apply for, and if selected, enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Autism Diagnosis (GCAD; course code: 70230).
After enrolling in the GCAD and successfully completing all 7 of these micro-credentials, students will receive credit towards the GCAD, which will equip students with the advanced knowledge and applied skills required to contribute to multidisciplinary diagnostic assessments for autism.
Applications open soon
Expression of Interest for the course are open, get in contact to be notified when applications open.