Dr. Peter Mundy is a developmental and clinical psychologist who conducts research on the role that social attention deficits play in the learning, symbolic thinking and social-cognition of children with autism. In 2009, he developed the Social Attention and Virtual Reality Laboratory, a collaboration between the UC Davis MIND Institute, School of Education and Center for Mind and Brain.
In this lecture, Dr. Mundy will trace the history of theories and research on autism as they inform educational practice for children affected by this disorder. Within this framework, he will discuss the emergence of information on the nature of the social behavior impairments of autism, and how those impairments are both symptoms and causes of syndrome specific social learning disabilities. With these advances in the understanding of the learning disabilities of autism, preschool educational interventions have become increasingly targeted and effective.
Current research suggests that these interventions significantly reduce the risk of intellectual disability in preschool children with autism. However, work needs to be done to develop a similarly well informed science of the development of school aged children with autism. This is necessary to spur advances in elementary and secondary education and optimal outcomes for affected children. Dr. Mundy will discuss where we are, and where we want to be in the developing a science of learning and educational intervention for school aged children with autism. He will use research from his laboratory at UC Davis to illustrate some of the progress and challenges posed by this research agenda.
This lecture is intended for families of individuals on the autism spectrum and professionals supporting individuals on the autism spectrum. We also invite anyone who is interested in learning more about ASD. Continuing education units will be offered.
Upon completion of this lecture, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the history of autism research and theories as they affect education.
2. Understand preschool educational interventions and the importance of developing similar interventions for school-aged children.
3. Understand the current progress and challenges to developing social attention interventions for school-aged children.
Please RSVP to hold you seat.
Dr. Peter Mundy
