Supporting individuals with autism to live healthy and fulfilled lives

Unit 6 of the Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism explores what it is like for individuals to live with autism. It also looks at personal safety, positive risk-taking, employment, accessing the community, life events, and transitions, and how individuals with autism can be supported in these areas.

It is split into six learning outcomes, each consisting of several assessment criteria.

• 1. Understand the experience of living with autism.
  • 1.1. Outline the potential effects of living with autism on an individual’s: development and puberty, education, employment and life chances, access to services and facilities.
  • 1.2. Describe the impact on family members of supporting: a child or young person with autism, an adult with autism.
  • 1.3. Identify positive aspects of living with autism.
• 2. Know how to support individuals to maintain their personal safety.
  • 2.1. Identify factors that may compromise the personal safety of an individual with autism.
  • 2.2. Give reasons why people with autism may be vulnerable to: bullying, exploitation.
  • 2.3. Outline ways to safeguard against the bullying and exploitation of individuals with autism.
  • 2.4. Outline strategies that individuals can use to protect themselves from harm and abuse.
  • 2.5. Describe ways to support individuals to use the internet and social media safely.
• 3. Understand the purpose of positive risk-taking
  • 3.1. Identify aspects of everyday life in which risk plays a part.
  • 3.2. Outline the benefits individuals can gain from positive risk-taking.
  • 3.3. Explain how risk assessment can be used with individuals and others.
• 4. Know how to support individuals with transitions and life events.
  • 4.1. Identify a range of life events and transitions that individuals may experience
  • 4.2. Give reasons why individuals with autism may find these transitions difficult.
  • 4.3. Identify ways that individuals can be supported through transitions.
  • 4.4. Describe how to involve others in the transition process.
• 5. Know how to support individuals to access services and facilities.
  • 5.1. Identify the support an individual may need to access: healthcare, education and training, leisure services.
  • 5.2. Outline the rights of individuals with autism in relation to accessing services and facilities.
  • 5.3. Give examples of reasonable adjustments that could be made for individuals with autism
  • 5.4. Outline the support available for individuals and families from rights groups and community support organisations.
• 6. Know how to support individuals with employment.
  • 6.1. Identify barriers that people with autism may face in gaining employment.
  • 6.2. Describe how individuals can be supported with: gaining employment, starting employment, continuing employment.
  • 6.3. Identify organisations and agencies that support individuals with autism into employment.