How did local authority educational psychologists find out about AS?

How did local authority educational psychologists find out about AS?

Was the NAS involved in raising awareness? If so, how did they do it?

It's probably safe to say that very few local authority educational psychologists knew about AS in 1990 but by 2000 it was an officially recognised condition.

  • I am wondering if some local authorities were clued up about AS before others. For example, one local authority could have had Autism and Asperger Syndrome by Uta Frith on the reading list of its educational psychologists as far back as 1992 whilst the local authority next door only found out about AS from the media or a parent suspecting their child has AS after 2000.

    Was Bromley an early local authority to recognise AS because the Centre for Social and Communication Disorders was established there in 1991?

  • That is actually really interesting, as I was assessed 97-2000, and they were apparently baffled with me. They knew there wasn't something 'typical' about me. But I had no learning difficulties, my speech difficulties appeared to be caused by low muscle tone. My hearing tested fine.  But I do recall seeing (who I now know) was likely an educational psychologist during primary school time. In my early years...  

    And to answer from a general understanding of how such professionals in those fields function. They likely would be updated through conferences, academic journal articles and dialogue with other academics. Like the medical field, psychology isn't stagnant, and requires life-long study to keep up to date with notable developments. However, as I do not believe it would have been a requirement at those early stages, it is quite likely that already qualified practitioners were less informed. 

    Did universities adjust their course to reflect the existence of AS? Or would it be on the job learning experience? Naturally, it would be doubtful that existing Lecturing/Academic staff would widely hold suitable in depth knowledge to pass on. They would be some who held their own theories - and would dismiss the new 'mainstream'.  It would be a slow spread, until the absolute vast majority of LA educational psychologists would be required to ensure they are versed in this. That goes for other care professionals -

    I.E -  A GP has never had to deal with a patient in adulthood who may have AS. They don't know alot about it -  so as they make a referral to people who do, but some will research it in order to be well-versed to support their patient. 

    I.E - Just as an educational psychologist not versed in AS back then might've sought out the advice of colleagues (who did). In turn, they would have asked for advice and attempted to expand their own knowledge to do their job, and probably adapting their own methods if required.   

    This is of course only a suggested pathway of what occurred. I do not have access to proper journal materials to do a comprehensive and evidence based explanation.  But to me the above from my own knowledge of how academics in the field work might well be an accurate web of what occurred.

    I can't comment on what NAS did, though, likely sponsoring articles and research by academics.  Arranging conferences/training by those 'experts'  already active.  

    I apologise for my rambling, the lack of awareness and expertise likely affected the course my life has taken, and it is to me a very personal topic. As I imagine it is for many others.