This course is part of the Autism: Developing Knowledge of Autistic Experiences ExpertTrack
A Deeper Understanding of Autistic People
Develop your knowledge of the experiences of autistic people of different genders, barriers to diagnosis and the latest research.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it worksIncluded in an ExpertTrack
Course 1 of 4
A Deeper Understanding of Autistic People
Understand the diagnostic process and barriers to accessing diagnosis
Recognising whether a person is autistic can be a key step in helping them access appropriate support and achieve self-knowledge.
On this four-week course from the University of Kent, you’ll explore the diagnostic process and the barriers many autistic people face in accessing diagnosis. You’ll learn what it means (and doesn’t mean) to be autistic to help you gain a deeper understanding of autistic people.
Examine the specificities of autism in women, girls, and other marginalised gender identities
We know that research has historically focused on autistic men and boys, and that this has impacted the way autistic people of all genders are viewed.
You’ll learn about the experiences of autistic women, girls, trans and/or non-binary people, and consider the impact that gender identity, and other inequalities, have on the accessibility of diagnostic and support services.
Unpack the social model of disability
The social model of disability holds that barriers within society are what make a person ‘disabled’, not medical conditions.
You’ll examine differences between the medical and social models of disability, and why these influence how autistic people are treated within services and society more broadly.
Discover new developments in research with and about autistic people
Over the four weeks of the course, you’ll be introduced to new developments in research with and about autistic people, as well as theories used to explain autistic differences.
Your learning will be guided by autistic and non-autistic academics at the University of Kent, who’ll share their expertise on what it means to be an autistic person.
Syllabus
Week 1
An introduction to autistic differences
Welcome and introduction
To begin, we ask "what is autism?" and think about the importance of the language we use. Image by Prayitno, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Neurodiversity and social communication
In this activity you wil reflect on your own experience of autism, and we'll think about 'neurodiversity' and social communication
Similarities and differences
We discuss what it's like to be autistic - what are the similarities and differences we see?
Week 2
Diagnosis
Diagnostic pathways
In this activity we consider diagnostic pathways and criteria. Image: www.freevector.com
Current criteria
In this section we look at the current diagnostic criteria and the barriers to diagnosis. Image: "Criteria" by Nick Youngson, http://www.nyphotographic.com/ CC BY-SA 3.0 via http://pix4free.org/
Responses to diagnosis
Here we think about the practical consequences of diagnosis
Week 3
Gender and diversity
The role of gender and diversity
Here we consider women, girls and gender diversity, as well as other forms of diversity and issues that arise particularly with regard to access to diagnosis. Image by Odolphie from Frome, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Barriers to diagnosis
Which types of autistic people do we still need to know more about? Also, the role of co-occurring conditions and diagnostic overshadowing. Image by Matthew Paul Argall, https://www.flickr.com/photos/79157069@N03/, CC BY 2.0
Support
In this activity you'll think about the support needs of autistic women, girls and other marginalised groups
Week 4
Theories
Theories
We present an overview of theories that attempt to explain autistic differences, from older discredited theories to the most recent developments
Practical impact of theories
Here we think about how 'theoretical' ideas translate into 'practical' experience. Image: Duke Innovation Co-Lab, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Conclusion
We complete the course with a summary of our learning over the last four weeks
Prove you're job ready
Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.
- Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
- Complete each course and pass assessments.
- Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
- Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
- Make your career dreams a reality.
Download a PDF
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the process and barriers to diagnosis
- Reflect on the experiences of autistic women, girls and other marginalised gender identities
- Discuss the latest developments in theories used to explain autistic differences
- Explain why such different people can have the same diagnosis
- Describe the differences between the social and medical models of disability
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of autistic people.
It will be particularly valuable for autistic people, their family members, and professionals working with autistic people in education, health, social care, or other areas.
Who developed the course?
The University of Kent
The University of Kent, the UK’s European university, is one of the country’s most dynamic universities. Established in 1965, it now has 19,850 students studying at its various campuses.
Start learning today - free 7-day trial
After your free trial you can:
- Pay $39 per month to keep learning online
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- Work at your own pace and set your own deadlines at every stage
- Only pay while you’re learning; the subscription will cancel automatically when you finish
- Complete online assessments to test your knowledge and prove your skills
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Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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