Supporting Those with Autism

Q: Why should I choose IMI?

IMI is in the top 2% of executive education providers worldwide. We have been empowering business leaders to build their capabilities for over 70 years. We are ranked #1 in Ireland for academic rigour and practical relevance on our Open-Enrolment programmes Our full focus is on you, the participant. Through continuous reinvestment, we engage world class faculty to enhance the learning experience and deliver highly contextualised and outcome-led programmes. This provides you with the best opportunity possible to grow your career.

Q: What are the key programme themes?

The programme contains three core modules structured around IMI’s HIT model: Disrupt, Reframe, Experiment and Fuse. Module 1: What is Autism? Describe the core characteristics of autism spectrum condition. Understand how autism can present differently across individuals. Examine and challenge common misconceptions. Build a more accurate understanding of autism and neurodiversity. Module 2: Teaching and Managing Autistic Adults Explore sensory, communication and social processing differences. Consider how these differences may affect workplace experiences. Develop practical approaches to teaching and managing autistic adults. Explore how predictability, clarity and choice can inform training and day-to-day management. Module 3: Workplace Accommodations Identify potential barriers within workplace situations. Evaluate what support may be appropriate in a particular scenario. Use a practical framework to recommend tailored accommodations. Explain the reasoning behind a proposed accommodation. Each module begins by testing an assumption, introduces a clearer framework and gives you a realistic case study to work through. It closes with a consolidation exercise to help bring the learning together. The programme finishes with a Sustain phase, during which you’ll develop a consolidated action plan before your live coaching session.

Q: Who is this programme for?

Supporting Those with Autism is designed for people managers & leaders, HR practitioners and Learning & Development professionals. It is particularly relevant for people who: Support colleagues, candidates or learners who may need accommodations. Design or adapt workplace learning. Advise managers on day-to-day people practices. Want to communicate more confidently and accurately about autism and neurodiversity. Want a more practical and individualised approach to workplace support.

Q: What will I be able to do after completing the programme?

By the end of the programme, you’ll be able to: Describe the core characteristics of autism spectrum condition. Explain how autism can present differently across individuals. Recognise common misconceptions about autism. Identify sensory, communication and social processing differences autistic people may experience at work. Relate these differences to potential workplace barriers. Apply practical approaches to teaching and managing autistic adults. Evaluate a workplace scenario and recommend appropriate, tailored accommodations. Communicate more confidently and accurately about autism and neurodiversity. Explain the rationale for specific accommodations.

Q: How is the programme delivered?

The programme includes six hours of learning in total: Five hours of self-paced online content that you can complete in your own time. A one-to-one live virtual coaching session with a member of IMI’s coaching team. The online learning includes practical frameworks, realistic case studies and consolidation exercises

Q: How has the learning been designed?

The programme is built around IMI’s HIT model: Disrupt: Test an existing assumption. Reframe: Introduce a clearer way of understanding the issue. Experiment: Apply the learning to a realistic case study. Fuse: Consolidate the learning and connect it to workplace practice. Sustain: Develop an action plan before the live coaching session. The learning design is grounded in Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory and shaped by the Community of Inquiry framework for effective online learning. It also follows Universal Design for Learning principles, and the course manual is formatted to WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.

Q: What perspective does the programme take?

Supporting Those with Autism takes a neurodiversity-affirming perspective throughout. Autism is presented as a natural variation in how people think, process information and experience the world. The programme also recognises that workplace environments and practices can create genuine barriers for autistic people. The focus is on understanding the individual and developing appropriate support, rather than assuming that the same approach will work for everyone.

Course Overview

Learn at your pace. Apply it with a coach.

This programme combines six hours of self-paced online learning with each participant receiving a one-hour coaching session to explore how the learning applies within their own role and working environment.

Most workplaces already include autistic colleagues, whether or not this has been disclosed.

HR and Learning & Development professionals are often among the first people asked for guidance. A colleague may need support. A manager may need advice. A learning experience or workplace process may need to be adapted. Yet knowing what appropriate support looks like isn’t always straightforward.

Autism presents differently across individuals. Sensory, communication and social processing differences can create different workplace experiences, while common misconceptions can lead to assumptions about what an autistic person needs or can do. A standard response won’t work for everyone.

Supporting Those with Autism is a practical programme designed to help HR and L&D professionals respond with greater knowledge and confidence. You’ll develop a clearer understanding of autism, recognise barriers autistic people may experience at work and explore practical approaches to training, management and workplace accommodations.

For organisations, this can support a more informed and consistent approach. It equips HR and L&D teams to advise managers more effectively, adapt learning and workplace practices, and recommend support based on the individual rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

The programme combines five hours of self-paced online learning with a one-to-one live virtual coaching session with a member of IMI’s coaching team. Throughout the course, you’ll test assumptions, explore practical frameworks and apply your learning to realistic case studies.

The programme takes a neurodiversity-affirming perspective. Autism is presented as a natural variation in how people think, process information and experience the world, while recognising the real barriers that unsupportive environments can create.

Just for your team

Every programme in our full suite of short programmes can be delivered exclusively to your staff. If you have 10 or more participants for a specific programme, we can partner with you to deliver it on our campus or at a location of your choice.

Programme Highlights

Understand Autism

Build an accurate and current understanding of autism, how it can present differently across individuals and the misconceptions that can shape workplace responses.

Recognise Workplace Barriers

Explore the sensory, communication and social processing differences autistic people may experience and how workplace environments or practices can create barriers.