Your essential Autism primer. A course on Autism, developed by Autistic people and informed by research.
This is an online self-paced course that provides a solid understanding of Autism in a way that is neuro-affirming. This means we talk about Autism and Autistic people in a way that is respectful of who we are, our strengths and our challenges, and does not prioritise non-Autistic ways of being, thinking and doing.
With over 13,000 registrations since its launch last year, and an overwhelming demand for a professional development component, we are pleased to now offer the original course plus a quiz and Professional Development Certificate upon completion.
Who is Autism Essentials for?
This course is designed for a wide variety of lived experiences as well as different levels of pre-existing knowledge about Autism - from those who are totally new to the topic to those who have formal education in Autism.
Whether you are Autistic, formally diagnosed, self-identified, or exploring the possibility of being Autistic; a family member or loved one of an Autistic person; a researcher, teacher, professional, or ally, this course is for you. We hope it helps you learn something new or deepen and expand your existing knowledge of Autism and the Autistic community.
Autism Essentials is a prerequisite for all other courses offered by Reframing Autism.
What will I learn in Autism Essentials?
Autism Essentials focuses on five main areas:
- Language
- What Is Autism?
- Brain Differences
- Communication and Socialising
- Thinking and Processing
All learners access the same base information in the course, but each topic has multiple worksheets available for different levels of knowledge about Autism. You can choose to complete the level that best fits your knowledge, complete all worksheets, or return to the course work later on in your journey and continue your learning by completing further levels. We encourage you to learn in your own time and customise your learning in a way that works for you.
What makes this course unique?
Unlike other courses offered on Autism, our Autism Essentials course is developed, designed, and presented by an all-Autistic team. It is not only information-rich, but actively centres Autistic experience as meaningful, and approaches Autism from a perspective of building broad and genuine wellbeing for every Autistic individual and the Autistic community.
Enrol today and join us in changing the way society views Autism.
"I highly recommend this course to all health professionals and especially speech pathologists. I loved how complex topics (such as communication and language) were presented in a concise and interesting way without oversimplifying."
– Course Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of this course – is it accessible?
This course features video content and accompanying worksheets. All videos are captioned and have downloadable transcripts. Course worksheets are available in PDF format and can be filled out digitally using a web browser or PDF editor, or printed and filled out.
How do I get my Professional Development Certificate?
The difference between this course and the free version is the professional development certificate that is awarded at the end. To receive the professional development certificate, you must complete all steps of the course and pass a 20-question quiz with a score of 90% or above. For any questions where the incorrrect answer is given, the correct answer will be displayed. You can retake the quiz three times.
What if I want to learn more after doing Autism Essentials – what can I do next? Reframing Autism has many other resources available, including blogs, podcasts, tip sheets, webinars, and targeted, on-demand courses for Autistics, families and primary caregivers and professionals. To explore our other offerings, visit our website at https://reframingautism.org.au/.
Course Curriculum
Participant Testimonials
"As a professional it was brilliant to see information about Autism being presented from the Autistic experience. I think a course like this should be mandatory for any professional working with the Autistic community."
"A wonderful learning opportunity and certainly a powerful, positive, and affirming reframing of Autism. Highly recommend."
"I have not yet divulged my autism to some areas of my life, participating in this course has helped me to be more confident about being proudly Autistic in all aspects so that I can role model neuro-affirming for my Autistic daughter. Thank you."
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