A special event (October 2024)
On October 8th, at 12.30 pm, the gifted autistic author Daniel Tammet will be giving a guest lecture at The Open University entitled ‘Nine Minds: Narrating Neurodivergent Experience’, with an introduction by course author Dr Ilona Roth. This is a free event which will also be livestreamed. You are cordially invited to join us for the lecture and Q&A session afterwards. Daniel is an exceptionally gifted autistic person. He speaks multiple languages, has mathematical gifts, synaesthesia and is an award-winning author and poet. He graduated from the OU with a 1st in Humanities, and in 2023 was awarded an OU honorary doctorate for services to the arts and sciences. Daniel will be talking about his own lived experience of neurodiversity, and its impact on his writing. He will outline his quest to shed light on the extraordinary diversity of talents on the autism spectrum, bringing neurodivergent stories to readers.You can find out more information and register for the event here.
Course description
Learn about autism, a complex and challenging long-term condition for many individuals and their families worldwide, and an aspect of human diversity to others. This free course, Understanding autism, introduces the autism spectrum, how it is experienced by different individuals and families, and why it is a global concern. The course explains how ideas about autism have evolved and explores diagnosis, causes, intervention and life-span development. Widely varying perspectives on autism are illustrated and key societal and cross-cultural issues highlighted.
Enrolling on the course will give you the opportunity to earn an Open University digital badge. Badges are not accredited by The Open University but they're a great way to demonstrate your interest in the subject and commitment to your career, and
to provide evidence of continuing professional development.
Once you are signed in, you can manage your digital badges online from My OpenLearn. In addition, you can download and print your OpenLearn statement of participation – which also displays your Open University badge.
The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course in this start-of-course survey. We welcome your feedback and suggestions to improve the course.
Earn this free Open University digital badge if you complete this course! The badge can be displayed, shared and downloaded as a marker of your achievement. The badge is awarded for completing the course and passing the quizzes.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- outline what is meant by autism, why it is considered a spectrum and how it affects different individuals and families
- appreciate different approaches to understanding autism, including theoretical and clinical perspectives and personal accounts
- outline key features of psychological, neurobiological and genetic explanations of autism
- explain key aspects of diagnosis, intervention, education and life-span development
- understand topical issues including neurodiversity perspectives, autism prevalence in women and autism in global context.
First Published: 26/04/2017
Updated: 02/04/2020