Edited by author 03-21-2005 03:43 AM
I'm placing this here, since it is about the standing of autistics in our respective countries (especially, but not restricted to, Canada).
I have a meeting today to determine whether my services will be continued.
I go to these meetings and I am the most qualified person in them, atleast regarding autism issues and service provision; and yet I always end up feeling as if I'm the least listened to person in the room.
So I sent the head office of the Autism Foundation an e-mail, for the purposes of finding out how many staff there are appropriately qualified (i.e., have appropriately leveled and certificated specialist training in autism issues).
Ten to one odds that my services get cancelled and I get labelled as a difficult case.
I will keep the board posted.
I am now officially scared shitless.
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I should be grateful for some information which might be useful for the time when I start choosing my PhD topic, hopefully at the University of Birmingham. I am currently a postgraduate student there, following a Master of Education degree (60ov) in Applied Educational Psychology, with a specialism in the applied educational psychology of autistic spectrum difficulties in adult life. This course qualifies me in the assessment and diagnosis of various developmental conditions and educational difficulties, as well as the types of concomitant mental health problems that can occur for autistic adults. I am currently a holder of BA-status with the University (as a postgraduate psychologist, admitted on the basis of equivalent studies: 120ov, of which 61ov is in applied psychology with education, including most - if not all - the subjects required for laillistettu status, even though I am an educational professional), and a pending intermediate award of Postgraduate Certificate in Special Education (PgCertSpEd; 20ov) in applied educational psychology. During these studies, I have qualified in psychoeducational assessment and diagnosis, as well as planning and implementing/evaluating interventions (ranging from counselling to behavioural and environmental management programmes). My training at PgCertSpEd level is from one of the award schemes detailed in the links below.
How many staff in the Autismisäätiö organisation actually have AUTISM-specific training?
By autism-specific training, I mean the following:
http://www.education.bham.ac.uk/programmes...d/autism-adults.htmhttp://www.webautism.bham.ac.uk/If so, I would be interested to know where it was conducted, which institution validated the course and which institution awarded any formal certification. Also of interest would be information about the steering committee responsible for designing the courses, and the criteria to which the training has been designed.
Syllabi for various parts would be useful, also.
Yours faithfully,
David N. Andrews
BA-status, PgCertSpEd (pending)
Applied Educational Psychologist and Autismisäätiö client.
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