FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When Brenda Myles, international expert on autism spectrum disorders, visited the University of Arkansas to address an autism symposium earlier this year, she said every Arkansas special education teacher is likely to work with a student who has autism. At the same time, faculty members here were already developing a graduate certificate in autism spectrum disorders.

The certificate, now being offered by the College of Education and Health Professions through a combination of on-campus and online courses, will help teachers and other educators be better prepared to help these students. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network released data in 2007 that found about 1 in 150 8-year-old children in multiple areas of the United States had an autism spectrum disorder.

“Public schools have seen a significant increase in the number of students identified with autism spectrum disorders,” said Barbara Gartin, University of Arkansas professor of special education. “Teachers, therapists and parents report a lack of knowledge on how to teach these students. We at the university are attempting to meet these educational needs by developing a graduate program of study for those professionals who work with students with ASD and their families. The result was the graduate certificate in ASD.”

According to the CDC, autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disabilities defined by significant impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. They include autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, and Asperger syndrome.

Autism spectrum disorders affect many parts of the brain. They impact the person’s social development and communication skills and often their ability to think and learn. The disorders are usually apparent before the age of 3 and last throughout a person’s life. They occur in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups and are four times more likely to occur in boys than girls. 

The university’s new graduate certificate requires 15 credit hours of study. It is an interdisciplinary program. Professionals who enroll in the program will learn specific knowledge and skills that will greatly increase their ability to effectively identify and educate students with autism spectrum disorders. Courses cover characteristics, assessment, communication skills and educational interventions for students with autism.

The certificate is not a licensure program since there is no ASD license for teachers in Arkansas. The graduate certificate can be completed as a certificate-only program or as a part of a master’s degree in special education or a specialist or doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction. Courses are also open to speech and language professionals and others interested in ASD.

“The faculty sees the certificate program as an opportunity for anyone interested to learn about this condition and how services can be tailored to help the individuals with ASD and their families,” Gartin said.

Information about enrolling in the program can be found at http://cied.uark.edu/5225.htm.