Working with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Foster Care Training

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are truly extraordinary in their unique ways of perceiving and interacting with the world. Many individuals with ASD demonstrate remarkable attention to detail, unmatched focus on their passions, and a deep capacity for creativity. With the right support and understanding they can achieve incredible feats. Nonetheless, children with ASD can be much more difficult to care for in the right way. Therefore, this course is an essential part of foster care training for those who are working with children with ASD.

The course will begin by getting participants to really think about how we see the world. In particular, how our senses interpret the environment around us. This is used to understand how children with ASD see the world differently, and how this can at times be overwhelming or scary for them. As a result, ASD can affect the way a child communicates, their social interactions, and their thoughts and behaviour. Without appropriate training, foster carers may struggle to understand how they should be interacting with children suffering from the disorder.

The training will cover the difference between children with high-functioning and low-functioning traits and describe how this may affect their behaviour. Of course, these deviations from normality within their behaviour can cause problems in everyday life. Therefore, this training will look to teach foster carers how they can get the most out of children with ASD and care for them in an appropriate manner.

The training will be led by an experienced trainer with the support of case study exercises and group discussion activities. This 1-day course meets the requirements of the Foster Care Training, Support and Development Standards:

• Standard 3: 3.3(a, b, c), 3.4b, 3.5
• Standard 4: 4.1(a, b, c, d), 4.4a
• Standard 5: 5.1(b, c), 5.8(a, b, c)
• Standard 6: 6.2(b, c)