Top award for autism study

Andrew Foster, a first year teacher and graduate of the University, was awarded a very prestigious national prize for his final year thesis on autism in children at a ceremony in Edinburgh last month.

Andrew has been selected for the George D Gray CBE MA award memorial prize by the General Teaching Council for Scotland for the best undergraduate thesis in Scotland.

The top student teacher studied a number of trials of intensive one to one therapy with autistic children that had been carried out in the United States. Andrew explains, "My interest in autism was sparked during voluntary work at a pre-school centre in Dundee. I wanted to find out the ways we could help autistic children move into mainstream education. The intervention called Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) involves an adult sitting with a child and prompting the child to develop appropriate behavioural responses to various stimuli. For example, when a child points at something, the adult asks the child to ask for it and rewards the child if they use the appropriate language."

This therapy is however expensive as it requires 40 hours a week over three years. The estimated cost for one child is £16,000 - £20,000 per annum for every child for three years. Andrew says: "Although this is significant cost in the short term, the long term dividends would pay off in reduced specialised care costs."

Andrew studied for a Bachelor of Education at the University. Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work, Professor Ron Elder, said, "This is a highly prestigious award that brings credit to Andrew and the Faculty. Andrew’s thesis was an excellent combination of diligent analysis, clear thinking and sound research skills. These skills will undoubtedly serve him well in his career."