For this learning unit:
Peter is a Hispanic boy, 8 years old, who has just been diagnosed with autism. His parents don’t really understand what the diagnosis of Autism means. How would you explain autism to them? In addition, Peter’s parents ask…. “Did we do something to cause this autism? We came across some online articles about Autism and vaccines. Do you know anything about that?” They also have heard conflicting predictions about what the diagnosis of autism will ultimately mean for their son’s life course: one person said that he will end up in an institution unable to care for himself, while another said that autistic children are actually brilliant prodigies who should be left alone to develop their talents, and yet another said that a psychologist in Los Angeles has found a complete cure for autism. To help them understand these issues and other relevant ones, create psychoeducational materials (e.g., a brochure) with information from the chapter, the DSM-5 update, and any other materials you want to incorporate, including resources in the valley they can contact for help.
