Complete Care Training
Unit 15: Understand Learning Disability and Autism
Learning Disability, Autism & NeurodiversityLevel 2

Unit 15: Understand Learning Disability and Autism

This unit provides learners with the knowledge required to understand the needs, experiences, and rights of people with a learning disability and autistic people in adult social care settings. It explores how these conditions impact daily life, health, wellbeing, and access to services, including the inequalities and barriers individuals may face. Learners will develop an understanding of communication differences, sensory needs, and the importance of person-centred approaches. The unit also covers reasonable adjustments, how to meet individual communication needs, and how to support access to services and information. In addition, learners will explore relevant legislation and guidance that promote inclusion, equality, and human rights. By the end of the unit, learners will be able to provide inclusive, respectful, and responsive care.

3 hours 30 minutes
Created by Sophie Barber Updated 11/2026 English
Part of Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate · Course 15 of 15

Available only in Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate

This course isn't sold on its own. You get it, with every other course in the pathway, when you enrol on the pathway.

£1400.00, was £1500.0015 courses
See the pathway

What you'll learn

Outline what is meant by the term learning disability.
Outline what is meant by the term autism.
Identify other mental or physical conditions that a person with a learning disability or autistic person are more likely to live with than the general population.
Describe how a learning disability or autism can impact a person’s: everyday life, health and well-being and care and support needs.

Course content

18 modules

What a learning disability is, how it affects learning and understanding, and how it differs from a learning difficulty.
What autism is, how it affects communication, social interaction and sensory experience, and why every autistic person is different.
Physical and mental health conditions that people with a learning disability and autistic people are more likely to live with.
How a learning disability or autism can affect everyday life, health, wellbeing and care and support needs.
Barriers people with a learning disability and autistic people face in accessing healthcare, from communication to environments.
Health inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability and autistic people, and why they lead to avoidable harm.
Written assessment on learning disability, autism and health inequalities, and the barriers people face in accessing healthcare.
Key differences in communication between a person with a learning disability and an autistic person, and why they matter.
How sensory differences with sound, light, touch and smell can affect autistic people, and ways to reduce distress.
Why meeting each person's communication and information needs helps them make choices, give consent and stay safe.
Ways to adapt your speech, body language and written information when supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people.
How to engage with and signpost people, families and carers to the right information, services and support.
Written assessment on adapting communication, understanding sensory needs and signposting to information and support.
Reasonable adjustments in health and care services that remove barriers for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
How to recognise and report unmet health and care needs, including missing reasonable adjustments.
Written assessment on reasonable adjustments that improve access to health and care for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
How the Equality Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act and human rights law promote inclusion, equal life chances and citizenship.
Written assessment on the legislation and rights that promote equality, inclusion and citizenship for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

Specialist

Sophie Barber

A qualified teacher, examiner and content creator, Sophie has over 10 years experience developing resources for examination boards to ensure that they are using effective learning tools. An ex-medic, Sophie has a huge passion for the healthcare profession and the importance of delivering quality care.

Training you can trust

How this course works. You will work through self-paced modules, check your understanding with knowledge checks, and finish with a short assessment. On passing, your CPD-certified certificate is available to download immediately, ready for your CQC evidence file or employer records.

This certificate does not expire.

Accredited by CPD

All of our courses are accredited by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to universally accepted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.

Frequently asked questions

There is no deadline: a one-off purchase gives you lifetime access to the course, including updates, so you can complete it at your own pace across shifts.
Yes. Every course is accredited by the CPD Certification Service, and the certificate states the course, the level and the date you passed.
Yes. It works on phone, tablet and computer, and your progress syncs between them.
Your certificate is generated the moment you pass the final assessment, ready to download or print.