Exploring Autism* *including Asperger syndrome
autism awareness sesssion
This interactive and enjoyable session explores what autism feels like from the inside and the impact of the condition on individuals. It examines autism in a social context as well as looking at the range of autistic traits.

The training is suitable for anyone interested in autism: health and social care practitioners, autistic adults, the parents of autistic children, have all found it useful.  The session was initially developed for therapists and counsellors, as they were not identifying autistic clients and thus were finding it challenging to help them. It soon became apparent that others were coming along and benefiting. The stories shared were helpful and the mixture of participants enriches the experience for everyone. 

A certificate of attendance or CPD certificate can be provided if required.


The session covers

•    An overview of autism
•    Why autistic people have social and communication differences
•    How and why autistic people respond to information and in unusual ways
•    Autistic strengths and challenges
•    Some reasons why autism is often not identified
•    Experiential exercises and discussion
Watch this space to see dates of and locations of upcoming courses, get updates to have these delivered to your inbox.
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"Caroline knows her stuff and delivers it with passion and humour." Counsellor

"A realistic and honest approach which looked at the employability aspects of autistic people. It was a very interactive session that I would recommend to others"
Parent of autistic child

"I am using a lot of the items mentioned on the course in day to day discussions and feel I have a greater understanding of my son's responses.
Thank you again"
Teacher and parent of autistic son

"Thank you for running your course, it's such a great help for someone like me. It doesn't clear the fog, but it gave me a better understanding of it.
Self-identified autistic woman

"I found Caroline's training good quality, challenging, and providing plenty of food for thought. Caroline is hugely knowledgeable, and grounded in the experience of being on the spectrum herself. I gained a lot from the experience."
Kate Stonehouse, Family Support Team Leader
“It was very informative and I found the experiential component particularly interesting inconveying some experience of issues facing autistic people.  It also helped to really highlight the diversity that exists between autistic individuals.
I found the mixed group worked really well for me offering a diverse range of experience and perspective.  I learnt from autistic members of the group why eye contact can be avoided during social interaction in order to maintain focus on the conversation – additionally how much I rely on non-verbal cues in conversation.” 

“I found the mix of participants very helpful.  The day flew by and I found it very interesting and thought provoking”
 Therapists

“Very interesting, lots of examples to which I could relate. Very useful to talk to others, both similar to my situation and counsellors/parents.  It is useful to pick up that one can go through life and not even suspect autism, until a problem or series of problems highlights particular traits “

“Thank you for a very interesting day on Saturday.  For me, I think the most beneficial thing was the quotes from autistic individuals.   The more of these accounts I hear, the more I find to identify with and the more accepting I can be of my autism.”
Autistic Adults

“I like the mix of the group.  Especially adult autistics to know that a young child can live a normal lif"Many thanks for the excellent day on Saturday.  I came away so hopeful for my son and encouraged for the seemingly increasing numbers of autistic people who are having to live in a (currently) NT-dominated world.  The key has to be understanding and you have definitely moved me – and others on the course too I am sure – on.  So a big thank you!" 
Parents
Participants on courses at Reading  Voluntary Action February and March 2015

"Throughout my whole life, through undergraduate and post-graduate degrees, I have had years of learning but this one day training has helped me more than the modules I have been taught.  I can say this training is excellent, innovative and really helps you understand autism."  Therapist Brit School September 2014

"More about making us think than just presenting information"
Teacher UTC September 2013

"Caroline’s training really brought the true issue of adult autism to light. She delivered the training from not only a position of clinical knowledge but of personal knowledge. This perspective is unique and added a dimension to the training that I have not found in many other training sessions I have attended.  A must for any clinical professional working with people or for anyone who is in a helping profession. Delivered in a clear, simple yet effective way, I left feeling the training with added skills and different perspective. It really did make the case, Autism Matters! "   Naomi Mwasambili. Managing Director. Community Therapies and Training Service  SSE  London 2013

"I want to email you soon to fully thank you for the training you did as it has completely changed my life and made everything so clear. I am now flying with my project which in a large part is down to you."
Robert  Elias SSE  London 2013

"Very enlightening training- definitely made me see the difficulties people in the autistic spectrum in a much clearer light.  The presenters personal experience and delivery of the information also convinced me of the importance of delving deeper into the underlying challenges that people on the spectrum might face in order to properly support this population”   Trainee psychologist Lothlorien Corsock 2011
I recently met a particpant from one of my courses at a conference - she told me about its impact on her friend, I was so delighted that I asked if she would mind repeating it and being videoed, she kindly agreed.  Here it is - my first video feedback.