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Understanding Autism


FutureLearn

Summary

Price
Free
Study method
Online
Duration
4 weeks · Self-paced
Qualification
No formal qualification
CPD
12 CPD hours / points

Overview

Understand more about autism, including diagnosis, the autistic spectrum and life with autism, with this online course.

CPD

12 CPD hours / points
Accredited by The CPD Certification Service

Course media

Description

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First identified over 70 years ago, autism is a lifelong developmental disability affecting how a person communicates with and relates to others, and how they make sense of the world. It is a spectrum condition; all people on the spectrum share certain difficulties, but their condition will affect them in different ways.

Around 700,000 people in the UK are on the spectrum, 1 in every 100 people. There are no blood tests or brain scans that will detect autism - so what exactly are we talking about? Does autism actually exist?

Image: Connor Sparrowhawk #JusticeforLB

What will you achieve?

Explain what autism is, and evaluate whether it really exists

Identify social communication skills and explain what happens if they do not develop as expected

Summarise knowledge of sensory and repetitive behaviours, and whether such behaviours are advantages or disadvantages

Explain why many people on the autism spectrum have co-occurring conditions

Identify the origins of strengths and difficulties experienced by people on the autism spectrum

Explore and discuss lived experiences of people on the autism spectrum

Who is this course for?

You don’t need any prior experience or qualifications to do this course but it might be of interest to practitioners in the field of autism, healthcare workers, people on the autism spectrum, and parents or carers.

Reviews

4.8
Course rating
94%
Service
97%
Content
97%
Value

FAQs

Study method describes the format in which the course will be delivered. At Reed Courses, courses are delivered in a number of ways, including online courses, where the course content can be accessed online remotely, and classroom courses, where courses are delivered in person at a classroom venue.

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. If you work in certain professions or for certain companies, your employer may require you to complete a number of CPD hours or points, per year. You can find a range of CPD courses on Reed Courses, many of which can be completed online.

A regulated qualification is delivered by a learning institution which is regulated by a government body. In England, the government body which regulates courses is Ofqual. Ofqual regulated qualifications sit on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which can help students understand how different qualifications in different fields compare to each other. The framework also helps students to understand what qualifications they need to progress towards a higher learning goal, such as a university degree or equivalent higher education award.

An endorsed course is a skills based course which has been checked over and approved by an independent awarding body. Endorsed courses are not regulated so do not result in a qualification - however, the student can usually purchase a certificate showing the awarding body's logo if they wish. Certain awarding bodies - such as Quality Licence Scheme and TQUK - have developed endorsement schemes as a way to help students select the best skills based courses for them.