Level 2 understanding autism

Useful, thank you.

Oof! No, much smaller than that. Quick search....

• Here we go: www.autism.org.uk/.../online-training 

It's definitely a real qualification but I'd advise asking them a few questions to check whether it's real learning.  And by that I mean up-to-date, autistic-led, not dominated by a DSM-driven ideology and the (outdated) work of a few non autistic academics plus "real" to you in terms of what you need as you await you assessment.

Ausome Training recently came up with this checklist:

https://ausometraining.com/red-flags-for-autism-courses/

At a similar stage in my own life, I liked the free Futurelearn course and, looking back, that probably put me in good stead because one of the mentors (George Watts) is herself autistic and it also draws on the work of Damian Milton (the double empathy guy).  It's a few years since I did it now but it might be worth a go.  

 www.futurelearn.com/.../autism

I recently started a course called the "TQUK level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism (FO) course" which drifted in on my Facebook feed and, on the surface, looked quite good.  Level 2, free, all online.  So I signed up and gave it a go.

Unfortunately, once I delved in, it required the regurgitation of information with which I actually disagreed, used pathologising language and went so far as to admit that, as regards the language used, they knew the course needed updating.  When questioned about the involvement of autistic people in designing and delivering the course, the answer was that autistic people had been consulted.  I didn't see much evidence of that though, and certainly it looked as though they hadn't taken a lead and weren't assigned as mentors.

It did get generally good reviews, but mainly from non autistic people and mainly from those seeking an additional qualification to help them at work.  I left before the first formal assignment as there was no discussion of some fairly debatable materials and the answers to the online quizzes were just very basic memory tests, with no real learning onvolved.  

I can't say whether this is exactly the same course or know whether, if it is, it's now been updated (since August this year), but, if affordable, I would recommend any Luke Beardon courses and definitely ANYTHING in which Kieran Rose is involved.  I did his Inside of Autism course and it's just excellent.  i'm not surprised there's a waiting list.  

https://theautisticadvocate.com/onlinelearning/

I would also have a look at Ausome Training (autistic-led training) and, when looking elsewhere, taking into consideration their checklist for choosing courses. 

https://ausometraining.com/

Some of these courses may look enticing and involve no costs financially but they do take your time and effort plus, I found, can be quite out of date, pathologising, and make you feel quite negative about being autistic.  So please bear that in mind when you choose.      

This one? https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/professional-development/training-and-conferences/postgraduate-certificate-autism-sheffield-hallam

I'm tempted by that. I have found Luke Beardon's books very helpful. The £3000 price tag makes me want to think more carefully about it though.

I couldn't see any contact details on the page, unfortunately. I did a course online through NAS but i don't know if it's still running. It had actual autistic input.

That is very disturbing as this is likely the standard course which most people with "autism training" have taken! Maybe we need to try and do something about this?

I'm glad that's good news for you! Although just because one course on an entirely different subject had that format is no guarantee the rest are, it does suggest it is somewhat likely.

Okay, short answer, NO.

I just looked at their sample workbook and it consistently talks about "individuals with autism." That's not even person-first language.  Also it has a section on Aspeger's, which is outdated, talks about functioning labels, and describes "the spectrum" as a single line of how much support people need.  

The description of symptoms they have is all based on how NT people experience autistic people, and focuses on aberrant behaviours. 

There are lots of books out there by autistic authors that i would recommend instead. I particularly liked Cynthia Kim, as her experience overlapped with mine a lot. "Nerdy, Shy, and socially inappropriate" was written a while ago so it still refers to Aspeger's but as it's a book of it's time I'm okay with that. (A course out now needs to be up to date.)

I got confused because in the video they used person first language but in the description they used identity first language.  Also the video did not have subtitles. So I would want to check up on those details first, like has this course been developed with any autistic people's input.

It's free unless you drop out, then it's £125. I want to figure out if it's a waste of time before I commit to 20 hours of work. That's good to know it's a real qualification.

Reading and regurgitating is probably my most highly developed skill! It's what I do for a job. Reassuring to hear there's a lot of text as I've really struggled with online courses before due to everything being video which I find difficult to extract info from. Thanks.

My husband did one of theirs on cyber security. He found it interesting, but a lot of reading and regurgitating what was read in your own words. But maybe other courses have other formats. I prefer video myself, not keen on reading swathes of info on screens, and not green to print it off, printer ink scam offends me.

I have wondered how it would be to do it knowing one is autistic, like do they get it right or wrong and would one want to correct them? I am reminded of a sci-fi story I read once where they a time machine that could bring famous people from the past to now. They brought Shakespeare and he had a great time, was amused to find courses studying him and took one, but failed!

Oooh, interesting.

I am an ex police trainer with some experience in training face to face and distance e-learns. What I can tell you is that NCFE are a nationally recognised qualification provider. Level two is generally regarded as equivalent to a GCSE.

I have done other L2 quals with them.

Whether it would stretch your understanding beyond what you already have through lived experience, only you will judge. But hey, if it's free, do it. It is a respected provider and you will have a qualification that means something. Just looking myself, actually. Might sign up if I don't have to pay, although it's not quite clear who would qualify for funding from this.

I have wondered about this too.