Autism DeCal Fall2020

Class 5: 10/5/2020

Today we covered common therapies used in Autism. 

Our Guest speaker was Dr Lawrence Fung who heads the Stanford Neurodiversity Project



Class 4: 9/28/2020

Today we covered common therapies used in Autism. 

Our Guest speaker was Noor Pervez from ASAN to speak on intersectionality. 



Class 3: 9/21/2020

Today we wrapped up our "Law Enforcement" Topic and covered "Autism in the Context of the Disability Rights Movement."

Our guest speaker was Prof Steve Hinshaw with another powerful talk on Stigma.


Class 2: 9/14/2020


In today's Mini Lecture portion, we focused on Autism interaction with Law Enforcement

To prep students, we asked the question

We will be wrapping up this topic in the next class as we got ready for the Student Presentations and the Guest Speaker. 

We had our first Guest Speaker on - Dr Clarissa Kripke on Sensorimotor Issues in Autism. Some tech difficulties as our speaker was not able to access our Zoom. So switched to Google Hangouts!! 


Survey Q: What interests you about this class

  • A friend of mine works with kids with autism and I would like to educate myself more on this topic so that I can be more well versed in this subject area when i talk to them. I would like to learn about pretty much anything y'all find most important, I'm just a dude trying to learn as much as possible.
  • It is interesting to learn about the spectrum of autism and how individuals cope with certain levels of the spectrum.
  • I am interested in learning more about adults with autism and the kind of support needed and barriers experienced later on in life. I also know a little about who women and girls are less likely to be diagnosed with autism until later on in life due to the way ASD is gendered, but I am curious to learn more about that.
  • I hope to build my awareness and knowledge of autism so that I can better understand and be an ally to those around me. I feel that autism is often stigmatized as a disability, and I want to learn more about how we can combat this thinking. I want to learn what symptoms and behaviors are associated with autism.
  • - I am interested on how I can be more cognizant of those on the spectrum. Additionally, as an intended disability studies minor, I want to learn more about personal stories by listening to guest speakers etc.
  • I am very interested in taking this course because of my interest in better understanding disabilities on many levels. I am aiming to pursue a career in disability research but believe heavily in the importance of understanding disabilities on a personal / social level before having the right to study them on a molecular / neurological level.
  • As being on the spectrum, I want to learn more about the condition and maybe provide some insight into the daily life of an autistic person.
  • I want to learn more about the autism spectrum, and what it looks like to proactively involved.
  • more information about life with autism and advantages or disadvantages
  • As a Psychology major, I find that I haven't actually learned much about autism in my classes, although I've learned about mood disorders, intellectual disabilities, and learning disorders. So, I'd like to learn more about the realities of autism and treatment options available.
  • I would like to get a more holistic view about autism from different disciplines as well as hear from the guest speakers!
  • why they have tendency too hyperfixate. how to navigate social situations with them.
  • I've seen autism depicted in media, and am curious to see if their depictions are accurate, and i just want to understand and be able to empathize more with people who do have autism.
  • I've always wanted to take a class focused on Autism, and I came to know of this class through Obama's Instagram ;) I would like to learn more about Autism through the perspective of someone with Autism. I also would like to learn more about the biological basis behind autism. Overall, I am most excited to meet more people and hear everyone's various experiences.
  • Just want to gain some general understanding about Autism to be able to broaden my sensitivity to and understanding of the needs of neurodiverse people :)
  • I'd like to hear about what it's like to be autistic from someone who has autism and how to be a helpful ally.
  • I am pursuing the disability studies minor and would like to educate myself more around the topic of disability. I think this will be a great way to know more about autism as we are taught very little about it in school.
  • I would like to meet other people on the spectrum, hear there stories / experience and have a safe place to share my own.
  • I'm interested in this course because I've learned a couple of things about the autism spectrum from my child development and psychology classes, but not a significant amount, and I guess I've just realized recently that I'm relatively ignorant on the subject. I'd like to change that. I don't have anything specific in mind to learn more about but I'm very excited to learn more!
  • I would love to learn more about autism alongside disability justice. I took a city planning for disability course a while back and it was very valuable and I learned a lot!
  • I would like to educate myself about people with autism. I took a course with professor Hinshaw and it was really interesting and I would like to learn more about Autism.
  • I joined this class because I have a family member who was recently diagnosed and I wanted to learn as much as I could about Autism Spectrum Disorder so that I could support that family member. I'm interested in learning about family dynamics and learn more about the current research on ASD.
  • I would like to better understand autism and learn how I can positively impact the community.
  • I have a twin brother who was diagnosed with ASD in the 5th grade. From this course I want to learn more about ASD in hopes to better understand my brother. My brother is considered "high functioning", so I'm really curious how doctors diagnose someone with Autism and how they decide if they're low/high functioning. My brother has also struggled with IEP accommodations growing up, so I would like to know how disability programs work at public schools and how schools decide if a student qualifies for IEP/DSP accommodations.
  • I study neurodevelopment with relevance to ASD. I would like to learn more about ASD from perspectives beyond my research area, particularly disability rights/advocacy and intersectionality. I am hoping to have a better understanding of how I as a researcher can interact with the autism community in a positive way that doesn’t cause harm. I’m hoping this class will give me the space to think about ways to center the interests and needs of folks with autism in my research and beyond.
  • Really excited for this class
  • It’s felt like talking about autism was taboo, but I really want to understand what the experience is and how to support folks who may have autism.
  • Excited about the reading list you put together. 

Class 1: 9/31/2020

A little weird doing this all remote but we adapt for the times. Also have a grad student auditing the class which is kind of cool. 


Registration for the DeCal

 Registration for the 1-unit, seminar-style, 1:54 Autism Spectrum Disorders Decal is now open. Class has filled up very fast in past semesters.

https://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2020-fall-psych-198-006-grp-006

Course #23457 Enroll through CalCentral
Timings: Monday 5-7pm.
Class Starts: Aug 31, 2020
Class limit: 40
Contact: SpectrumDeCal@gmail.com

The Autism DeCal got featured on President Barack Obama's Instagram in July on 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act


About the Decal: In this DeCal, not only will you learn about possible neurobiological roots of ASD, you will also discover its research beginnings, possible intervention therapies, family dynamics, law, the role of technology, media portrayals, child and adult life, stigma, public outreach, and public awareness.

The primary goal of this course is to stimulate and encourage a deeper understanding about individuals who meet the DSM-5 criteria for ASD and their families.

Instructors: Hari Srinivasan, Eli Oh, Helen Lee, Kate Bierly




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