This course is dedicated to professional guidance for teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a wide range of educational needs; current data suggests that individuals with ASD account for up to 2% of the population. Consequently, a contemporary educator, tutor, or mentor must master inclusive learning methods, know how to organize an accessible environment, and adapt educational materials to the perceptual and communication needs of students with ASD.During their school years, the path for a child with ASD is often clear—a resource classroom. But what happens when school ends and adult life begins? Within this course, students will familiarize themselves with the basic concepts of design, learn about its various fields, and acquire the skills to adapt this knowledge for creating methodological materials to work with teenagers with ASD.The outcome of the course will be the development of an action plan for creating a suitable environment for working with individuals with ASD, along with a solid understanding of basic design concepts and the ability to apply them in practice.

Students in correctional pedagogy, educators and tutors who work with individuals on the autism spectrum (ASD), regular teachers from general education institutions, and parents of individuals with ASD who do not have a design education.

Course Prerequisites.A foundational understanding of the educational needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Knowledge of the core principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

— Organizing an accessible environment for working with teenagers on the autism spectrum
— Analyzing and minimizing negative behavioral scenarios
— Developing visual acuity and generating ideas
— Understanding basic terminology from the design field
— Applying design principles to create composition

— Developing an action plan for organizing the learning environment — Presenting the action plan — Case study analysis during the session — Completing a creative assignment on idea generation (filling out a Jungian scheme, finding a metaphor, presenting a concept) — Gathering references on the specified topic — Completing a creative assignment to practice learned techniques (final project) — Presenting and discussing the work

Rules for Organizing a Creative Environment for Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Lecture)Analysis of Suggested Environmental Solutions and Case Studies (Seminar)Core Concepts of Design (3-Lecture Series)— Introduction to Major Directions in Design and Art
— Principles of Idea Generation, Statement Formation, Metaphorical Search, and Reference Collection
— Study of Design Techniques (Contrast, Typography, Composition, Color)Presentation of Creative Assignments on the Topic of «Idea Generation» (Seminar)Review of Final Projects and Course Wrap-up (Seminar)

This course builds upon the curriculum «Creative Career Guidance for Teens with Autism: Environment Building and Study of Basic Design Concepts.» The focus of this course shifts from theoretical concepts to the practical implementation of creative sessions: working with methodological materials, adapting assignments, and systematically collecting and analyzing progress data. Furthermore, one objective is to elevate art activities to a higher level—from creative expression to product design. To achieve this, the course will provide foundational skills in using Adobe Photoshop.

The goal of the course is to provide the tools necessary to fully unlock the creative potential of teens with ASD, evaluate their skills, and formulate a subsequent transition plan based on these findings.

Students from the correctional pedagogy programs, educators and tutors working with individuals with ASD, regular teachers from general education institutions, parents of people with ASD, and those without a design education

Course Prerequisites.Successful completion of the first part of the course (Creative Career Guidance for Teens with Autism: Environment Building and Introduction to Basic Design Concepts)A foundational understanding of the educational needs of individuals on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). Familiarity with the core principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

— Develop creative skills in teens with ASD and identify those that can be monetized— Adapt and create methodological materials for creative sessions with teens with ASD— Process creative works in Adobe Photoshop— Collect and process client data— Present the teen’s skill data to parents (create a portfolio)

— Presentation and discussion of a creative assignment on the use of templates.— Case study presentation on a motivation system for a teen with ASD.— Presentation of a creative assignment in Adobe Photoshop, error correction.

Studying various template types and practicing their application (lecture)Analyzing a creative assignment using one of the template types (seminar)Using prompts and the motivation system (lecture)Case study analysis on motivation examples for teens with ASD (seminar)Learning basic skills in Adobe Photoshop (lecture)Presentation and discussion of a creative assignment to practice the acquired skills in Adobe Photoshop (seminar)Analyzing the methodology for data collection and portfolio creation (lecture)Q&A and course wrap-up (seminar)