Popularity Grows for UD Autism Certification Program After Going State-wide
The Autism Certification Program has come a long way in the past few years at the University of Delaware. Formerly, teachers who wanted to become certified in this area only had a few options. The program involved long commutes or televised instruction.
But, just last year, the School of Education started offering the courses, with live instructors, at sites in Lewes and sometimes Georgetown. Instructors range from speech and language pathologists to autism experts.
In the state of Delaware, teachers who work with students with autism are required to get this certification within three years of being hired. It can be attached to any Special Education teaching license.
Assistant Professor Gary Allison, coordinator for the UD program, says he’s thrilled he could finally push the program state-wide. It’s gaining so much popularity, he says there are 50 students so far who are either pursuing or who have received the autism certification.
"These are practicing teachers, what we’re doing is taking them further, so they really understand what autism is, what the probable causes are and the array of factors that seem to cause autism," said Allison.
More than just offering the program in several locations, Allison says he’s also expanding the curriculum.
"This field changes so rapidly and so often that curriculum development is non-stop," remarked Allison. He hopes to be adding more elective classes within the next year.
Allison says UD has the only Autism Certification Program in the state that is approved by the Delaware Department of Education.
