An Introduction to the Autism Spectrum

This e-learning course is for anyone who works closely with children or in a capacity where they might encounter someone on the autism spectrum; for example, teachers, youth workers, carers, nurses and even customer service professionals.

The Introduction to Autism Spectrum training course has been updated with help from subject matter experts to include more information on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to cover the Oliver McGowan case.

Overview - An Introduction to the Autism Spectrum Course

According to the National Autistic Society, Autistic spectrum disorder affects more than 2.8 million people in the UK.

The term autism refers to a range of social, language and communication problems. Some people on the autistic spectrum have very few symptoms, meaning their condition can go unrecognised. It is not unusual for people to be diagnosed with autism in adulthood.

However, for others, the condition can be so severe that they are unable to participate in society.

Autism awareness needs to increase among the population to ensure that everyone on the autism spectrum is able to get the support they need, and so that any stigmas around the condition are dispelled.

This is particularly important for anyone who works with children, as spotting the signs of autism and finding ways to deal with them early on can help to prevent the condition from adversely affecting a young person throughout the rest of their life.

Why take this course?

Our Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders e-learning course is designed to provide people who work with children with a basic understanding of the autism spectrum.

After completing the course, learners will be able to:

• Recognise the main characteristics of behaviour for people on the autism spectrum
• Understand the triad of impairment
• Understand the range of the autistic spectrum
• Appreciate the particular differences of understanding language with people on the autism spectrum
• Understand the need to backup spoken language visually to help understanding
• Appreciate the importance of routine and predictability for people on the autism spectrum
• Understand the complexity of social interaction for people with autism
• Appreciate the sensory differences of people on the autism spectrum

Who is this course for?

Our e-learning course is suitable for anyone who works closely with children or in a capacity where they might encounter someone on the autism spectrum; for example, teachers, youth workers, carers, nurses and even customer service professionals.

Course lesson plan

An Introduction to the Autism Spectrum covers the following lesson plan:

• Welcome and learning objectives
• Introduction
• The triad of impairment and the autism spectrum
• Support strategies for the three areas of the triad
• Sensory issues and the autism spectrum summary

Course accreditation

The content of this digital learning course has been independently certified as conforming to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.

Certification

After completing this course, you will be able to download a Virtual College certificate to print and keep for your records.

Course duration

The course should take one to two hours to complete, but this depends entirely on your individual learning speed and how quickly you absorb the study material.

With our Learning Management System, Enable, you can proceed at whatever speed you like, with your progress automatically saved as you go.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this course.