Online Training
Our new courses are for practitioners, professionals, and those that work with or alongside autistic people in a variety of settings including support services, educational establishments and workplaces.
Online Training
Autism is a lifelong, developmental difference in the way a person communicates, interacts and processes information. Every autistic person is different and our training aims to increase understanding of these differences. By doing so we strive to create communities that support autistic people to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Who are our training courses for?
Our online training courses are aimed at practitioners, professionals, and those that work with or alongside autistic people in a variety of settings including support services, educational establishments and workplaces. If you are autistic or identify as autistic, you may wish to contact our Autism Advice Line.
Our training takes participants through a learning pathway to increase their awareness and understanding of autism. Together, we will explore the most recent theoretical and practice based thinking on autism. We will consider this alongside approaches that enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of autistic people. All of our courses are CPD accredited.
How do they work?
Each course is delivered via an online learning platform. Our blended learning model includes pre-recorded presentations from our Course Facilitators, reflective learning activities and trainer facilitated live virtual classrooms where participants will spend time reflecting on their learning. Our approach to training goes beyond the more traditional online learning models. It enables participants to reflect on their learning and to start to apply it to their current role with the support and guidance from experienced autism practitioners.
Each one of our courses is delivered over a 3 week period and participants much complete the following each week:
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1 x 30 minute self-directed learning session via recorded presentation
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1 x 30 minute reflective learning activity
- 1 x 1 hour virtual classroom discussion session delivered live
Participants must complete all 3 elements in each week to receive the CPD accreditation. The time required to complete a course is around 6 hours.
Please note you must sign up for a course by noon on the Friday before the course begins.
Courses Available
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Autism Understanding and Awareness
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, and through this course you will begin to develop an understanding of the developmental differences an autistic person may have as well as turning our thinking to how this developmental profile may influence how an autistic person communicates, thinks and understands the social world.
This course is accredited by the CPD Certification Service.
Course objectives are:
- To understand what autism is, and introduce autism as a developmental difference and how our thinking has involved
- Understand Autism as a difference in communication, interaction and thinking
- Explore sensory differences and autism
The course is available on the following dates and virtual classroom sessions will take place on a Wednesday. Participants will be able to choose a morning (9.30am) or afternoon slot (1.30pm).
23rd August - 10th September
27th September - 15th October
25th October - 12th December
29th November - 17th December
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Understanding Autism as a Developmental Difference
This course is accredited by the CPD Certification Service.
Course objectives are:
- To explore what we mean by human development
- Explore how the brain processes information and its emotional development
- How does our knowledge of human development impact our practice?
The course is available on the following dates and virtual classroom sessions will take place on a Thursday. Participants will be able to choose a morning (9.30am) or afternoon slot (1.30pm).
23rd August - 10th September
25th October - 12th November
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Sensory Processing
This course is accredited by the CPD Certification Service.
Course objectives are:
- to better understand what we mean by sensory processing
- to explore the influence of sensory processing differences on attention and wellbeing
- to consider how sensory processing differences can be supported in practice.
The course is available on the following dates and virtual classroom sessions will take place on a Wednesday. Participants will be able to choose a morning (11am) or afternoon slot (3pm).
27th September - 15th October
29th November - 17th December
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Understanding and Supporting Communication
Getting an individual’s communication profile right is crucial in facilitating day-to-day interaction, enabling individuals to articulate their needs and aspirations. This course will explore how we can support individuals to articulate their needs and express their voice and choice.
Course objectives are:
- To explore what communication is; the different types of communication and why communication is important.
- To understand the complexities associated to communication for autistic people.
- To explore how communication can be supported in practice.
The course is available on the following dates and virtual classroom sessions will take place on a Thursday. Participants will be able to choose a morning (11am) or afternoon slot (3pm).
23rd August - 10th September
25th October - 12th November
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Stress, Coping and Wellbeing
Course objectives are:
- To develop an awareness of your own stress and wellbeing and of the person(s) you support.
- To differentiate stress signatures and to understand the impact of transactional stress.
- To recognise different coping styles and gain awareness of strategies that can help manage stress and support wellbeing.
The course is available on the following dates and virtual classroom sessions will take place on a Friday. Participants will be able to choose a morning (9.30am) or afternoon slot (1.30pm)
27th September - 15th October
29th November - 17th December
If you don’t see anything in our current training programme to suit your learning needs then please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements.
Meet our Course Facilitators
Joanna Panese, Practice and Community Development Lead
Joanna has 12 years’ experience in the third sector through direct practice, service development and management roles. At Scottish Autism, Joanna has worked alongside autistic people in supported living and day services, and has managed services that provide vocational and skills development opportunities.
In her current role, Joanna leads on the development of practice both internally and externally providing practice and service development support across Scottish Autism, and partner organisations. Joanna’s key interest lies in creating environments and communities that enable autistic people to flourish and that recognise their voice.
Zofia Bukiel, Senior Community Advisor
Zofia has 10 years’ experience in the third sector through direct practice, project development and management roles. Zofia has worked alongside autistic people in children services as well as vocational services. Zofia has also managed services that provide social and leisure opportunities, transition support, day services as well as those that provide vocational and skills development opportunities.
In her current role, Zofia leads on the delivery of a range of community support services for autistic people and their families, such as the Advice Line, Affinity and the National Post Diagnostic Support pilot. As well as coaching and mentoring the wider communities team. Zofia’s key interests encompass person centredness, that enables autistic people to achieve their aspirations and for their voices to be heard.
Rebecca Goodsir, Senior Practice Development Advisor
Rebecca has both personal and professional experience of autism.
Professionally Rebecca has worked for the last 11 years in various roles for Scottish Autism. These include; providing direct support within residential schooling for autistic young people, managing a residential service for autistic young people, supporting internal learning development and acting as a community advisor for external support and collaboration.
Rebecca currently acts as a senior within the Scottish Autism practice development team. This role allows Rebecca to support and guide internal practice and service development.
Rebecca has an interest in and places much value on autistic individuals living fulfilled and meaningful lives.
"No matter how experienced a worker is, it is always good to refresh your thinking so you do not become complacent in the care we provide – this course meets this, it’s informative, well-paced and current."Pilot Participant
"The blended learning approach by Scottish Autism exceeded my expectations, providing a mix of self-paced online activities and facilitated discussions through a platform that was accessible to our staff. Communication I had with Joanna throughout the development and delivery of the training could not be faulted. The positive communication extended during the delivery of the course, with all involved being extremely helpful and accommodating with the participants, recognising this was, for some, a new way of learning."
Diane Roth, Workforce Development Lead Officer, Fife Council