Understanding Autism

Autistic people experience the world in ways that are different from non-autistic people. This includes differences in communication and sensory experiences. These differences can often disadvantage autistic people as they navigate the non-autistic world. All autistic people will share these key differences but this may appear very differently in each person.

Around 700,000 people in the UK are autistic, 1 in every 100 people. There are no blood tests or brain scans that can tell us if a person is autistic - so what exactly are we talking about?

Image: Connor Sparrowhawk #JusticeforLB

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, autistic people, and parents or carers.

It is ideal for anyone considering postgraduate study in the field, such as the PCert in Autism Studies at the University of Kent.

• What is autism?
• What do we understand about autistic people?
• What is social communication?
• Social communication difficulties
• Strengths and challenges
• Sensory issues and repetitive behaviours
• Sensory differences
• Making use of strengths and minimising challenges
• The origins of autism, and co-existing conditions
• Where have our ideas about autism come from?
• Co-existing conditions
• One thing or many?
• What do we understand about autistic people?
• Case studies
• Advantages and disadvantages of a diagnostic category of autism
• Bringing it all together