Newly Diagnosed with Autism – Looking for Advice on Online Training

Hi everyone,

My name’s Lucy, and I’m new to the forum as well as new to my autism diagnosis. At 29, I always felt like I was just a bit “different” from others—struggling in social situations, getting easily overwhelmed, and obsessing over small details that no one else seemed to notice. It was only recently, after lots of reading and some encouragement from a close friend, that I decided to get assessed. And now here I am!

It’s mild (or so the report says), but I feel like that word doesn’t really describe the challenges I’ve faced. To me, it feels very real and sometimes very tough. I’m in a bit of an emotional whirlwind, honestly. On one hand, it’s such a relief to have answers. On the other hand, I keep wondering, “What now?”

I know many of you have been where I am right now, and I’d love to hear your advice. One thing I’m especially keen to do is learn more about autism—both to understand myself better and to feel more confident explaining it to the people in my life.

I’ve started looking at online training courses, but wow, there’s so much out there, and I feel a bit stuck on where to begin. Have any of you done any good autism awareness or related training online? I’d like something practical and easy to follow—no overwhelming jargon!

A couple of options have caught my eye so far:

I don’t want to just read about autism; I want to gain tools that will help me manage tricky situations, like sensory overload or misunderstandings at work. Has anyone here found online training that really helped them with practical advice or coping techniques? Or is there anything you wish you’d learned about autism earlier on?

Thanks in advance for your help! I’m looking forward to connecting with others here and learning from your experiences.

Lucy Blush