CPD Standards Office accreditedLearning Disability and Autism Awareness Training
Learning disability and autism training is not named in the Equality Act 2010, but employers and service providers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Lift College's 2 hour online course gives you a CPD Standards Office accredited certificate on the day you pass, plus a free refresher every 3 years.
- £19.99, pay once
- CPD certificate the day you pass
- Free refresher when it is due
- 14-day money back
Accredited CPD activityThe CPD Standards Office, provider 51289. Verify accreditation
14-day money back · Pay once, no subscription
Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training
You can do learning disability and autism awareness training online in the UK with Lift College's Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training course. It is 2 hours of learning in 5 short modules, covering what a learning disability is and what autism is, how each affects communication, sensory experience and daily life, the reasonable adjustments any service can make, how to communicate and support well, the law that applies, and what the Oliver McGowan code of practice expects of health and care providers in England. It costs £19.99, pay once, and your accredited CPD certificate is ready the same day you pass. Lift College recommends a refresh every 3 years, and the refresher is free.
People with a learning disability and autistic people use every kind of service: shops, buses, schools, housing offices, gyms, banks and GP surgeries. The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers and employers to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage, and that duty is anticipatory: you are expected to think about it before the person arrives. The Oliver McGowan code of practice, which became final on 6 September 2025, sets out why this matters. It cites LeDeR data showing that in 2022 men with a learning disability died on average 19 years younger than men in the general population, and women 23 years younger, with 42% of deaths rated avoidable against 22% for the general population. Oliver McGowan died in 2016 after being given medication he and his family had asked him not to be given, because the staff treating him did not understand autism and learning disability.
This course teaches the awareness level knowledge: the Tier 1 capabilities the code describes for staff who need a general awareness. It is written for people outside CQC-registered health and care services, where the statutory training does not apply but the Equality Act does, and as pre-learning for health and care staff before their statutory training. It is not the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training and does not on its own meet the requirement in section 181 of the Health and Care Act 2022, which needs live training co-delivered by a person with a learning disability and an autistic person; the course explains exactly what that requirement is and how to meet it.
- Explain what a learning disability is, what autism is, how they differ and how they can occur together
- Describe how learning disability and autism can affect communication, sensory experience, routine and decision making
- Recognise the signs that someone may need extra time, clearer information or a quieter environment, without a diagnosis being disclosed
- Apply the anticipatory duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 in your own setting
- Communicate clearly: plain words, one question at a time, visual support, checking understanding and allowing processing time
- Explain the five principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and why capacity is decision-specific
- Describe what section 181 of the Health and Care Act 2022 and the Oliver McGowan code of practice require of CQC-registered providers, and how the Tier 1 and Tier 2 training works
- Know where to signpost a person or family for support, and when to involve a specialist
5 short modules, 2 hours in total.
Learning disability and autism: what they are
Definitions, prevalence, how a learning disability differs from a learning difficulty, the autism spectrum, co-occurring conditions including epilepsy and mental ill health, and the language people prefer.
Knowledge checkCommunication, sensory needs and daily life
Processing time, literal understanding, non-verbal communication, sensory overload in noisy or bright places, routine and change, masking, and what distress can look like when it is misread as bad behaviour.
Knowledge checkReasonable adjustments in any setting
The anticipatory duty under the Equality Act 2010, easy read and visual information, quiet times and spaces, longer appointments, hospital passports and one-page profiles, and adjustments in shops, schools, transport, housing and online services.
Knowledge checkThe law and the Oliver McGowan code of practice
The Equality Act 2010, the Autism Act 2009 and its strategy, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its five principles, the Human Rights Act 1998, section 181 of the Health and Care Act 2022, the four standards in the 2025 code of practice, the Tier 1 to 3 capabilities and what the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training involves.
Knowledge checkSupporting well and signposting
Ask, listen, do: involving the person and their family, diagnostic overshadowing and why physical symptoms must not be put down to a diagnosis, avoiding over-medication (STOMP), annual health checks for people with a learning disability, and where to signpost for support.
Knowledge checkFinal test and your certificate
Multiple choice, 80% to pass, unlimited attempts. Your CPD Standards Office accredited certificate is issued the day you pass.
This course is for you if
- You work in a school, nursery, college, shop, restaurant, gym, library, housing office or on public transport and meet people with a learning disability or autistic people
- You manage a team or a service and need to meet the duty to make reasonable adjustments
- You work in health or care and want the awareness knowledge before your statutory Oliver McGowan training
- You volunteer with a charity, club or community group
- You are a family member, friend or employer who wants to understand and support someone better
Your CPD accredited certificate, issued the day you pass.
Your certificate records that you completed Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training with Lift College. It shows 2 hours of learning, your completion date and a recommended refresh date 3 years on.
- One price, £19.99. One payment, one learner, no subscription.
- Short modules with a knowledge check after each one and a final test. Instant results.
- 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
- A CPD accredited certificate as a PDF the same day you pass, carrying the CPD Standards Office mark, our provider number 51289, a unique number and a verification link.
- Access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years from the day you buy.
- A free refresher when your recommended refresh date arrives. Changed your mind? Ask within 14 days of paying and we refund you in full.
LC-CPD-SAMPLECertificate numberAccredited continuing professional developmentCertificate of CompletionThis is to certify thatAlex Johnsonhas successfully completed the CPD course
Dr Kate StrohmManaging Director, Lift CollegeSample certificateAn example only. It has no numberand cannot be verified.LC-CPD-SAMPLELift College Limited is a CPD Standards Office accredited provider (number 51289). This course is an accredited CPD activity.This certificate confirms completion of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course. It is not an Ofqual-regulated qualification.Lift College Ltd · Registered in England and Wales, Company No. 17337303 · Unit 3 E/F Suffolk House Business Park, Ashwells Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9SG · liftcollege.co.ukA sample. Yours carries your name, the date you pass and a unique certificate number with a QR code anyone can scan to check it, or check a certificate at liftcollege.co.uk/verify.
The law this course supports
Equality Act 2010, section 20
Employers, service providers and public bodies in England, Wales and Scotland must make reasonable adjustments so that a disabled person is not put at a substantial disadvantage compared with people who are not disabled. For services the duty is anticipatory. Northern Ireland has the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Read the legislation →Autism Act 2009
Requires the Secretary of State to publish and keep under review an adult autism strategy for England, and to issue guidance to local authorities and NHS bodies on implementing it. It is the only Act in England about a single condition.
Read the legislation →Mental Capacity Act 2005, section 1
Sets out the five principles in England and Wales: a person is assumed to have capacity, must be helped to decide, may make an unwise decision, and any decision made for them must be in their best interests and the least restrictive option. A learning disability or autism does not mean a person lacks capacity.
Read the legislation →Health and Care Act 2022, section 181
From 1 July 2022, providers registered with the Care Quality Commission in England must ensure their staff receive training on learning disability and autism appropriate to their role. It also requires a code of practice on how to comply.
Read the legislation →The Oliver McGowan code of practice on statutory learning disability and autism training
Final from 6 September 2025. Sets four standards that training for CQC-registered providers' staff must meet, including at least 90 minutes of e-learning plus a minimum of one hour of live, interactive training co-delivered by a person with a learning disability and an autistic person (a full day for staff who provide care). The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is the government's recommended package.
Read the legislation →Human Rights Act 1998
Public authorities, including NHS bodies and councils, must act compatibly with the rights in the European Convention, including the right to life, freedom from degrading treatment, liberty and respect for private and family life. The code of practice names it among the laws not followed in Oliver McGowan's care.
Read the legislation →£19.99. Pay once, nothing added.
One payment for one learner. You keep access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years. Changed your mind? Ask within 14 days and we refund you in full.
- PaySecure card payment, one time only.
- Sign inYour learner account is ready straight away.
- StartBegin module 1 the same minute.
Free refresher when it is due
We recommend a refresh every 3 years. We email you 30 days before, and from the refresh date you can retake the latest version free and download a new certificate.
Buying Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training for a team?
Open a free organisation account, buy places and give each person their own login. The price falls the more places you buy.
Multiple enrolment discounts
The price of a place is set by the places in one order, on this course or any mix of our CPD courses. Saving against the £19.99 single place.
| Places in one order | Price a place | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 9 places | £16.99 | 15% off |
| 10 to 49 | £14.99 | 25% off |
| 50 to 99 | £12.99 | 35% off |
| 100 to 249 | £10.99 | 45% off |
| 250 or more | £9.99 | 50% off |
What would your team cost?
Training each person on several courses? A sector pack or the annual plan can cost less. Your quote compares all three for you.
Prefer to talk first? Request a call back
- 1
Your own training portal in 2 minutes
Open a free account with your work email. No sales call, and no minimum order.
- 2
See where everyone stands
A progress dashboard, a training matrix and an Excel progress report for your records.
- 3
Reminders sent for you
Welcome emails, nudges for anyone who stalls, and refresher dates so nobody goes out of date.
- 4
Pay by card or invoice
Card, or invoice on 30-day terms with your PO. Places stay valid for 3 years.
- 5
A human tutor with every course
Real tutor support for your staff, unlimited free retakes and a certificate the day they pass.
- 6
Accredited by the CPD Standards Office
Provider 51289. Every CPD course is an accredited CPD activity.
Check any learner's certificate in our register →
What our learners say
Stories from Lift College learners on our qualifications, in their own words.
“I had been a care assistant for four years without a formal qualification. Lift College made the whole process straightforward, my assessor visited regularly and I completed my Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care in just over a year. I was promoted to senior care worker the month after I qualified.”
“My employer was clear, I needed GCSE English to move into a supervisory role. Lift College helped me find the right exam board and an exam centre five minutes from home. Passed grade 4. Got the promotion.”
“My employer needed me to have Level 2 maths before they could register me on the Level 3 apprenticeship programme. Lift College was fast, the tutor was brilliant, and I resit my maths once after a near-miss and passed the second time. The whole thing took twelve weeks.”
Questions about Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training
Is this the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training?
No. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the government's recommended package for CQC-registered health and care providers in England, delivered through NHS England with live sessions co-delivered by a person with a learning disability and an autistic person. This course teaches the awareness knowledge and explains the code of practice; it is a CPD Standards Office accredited certificate (provider number 51289), not the statutory training.
Is this course CPD accredited?
Yes. Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training is an accredited CPD activity with the CPD Standards Office, the UK's research-led CPD accreditation body. Lift College Limited is a CPD Standards Office accredited provider (provider number 51289), and your certificate carries the CPD Standards Office mark and our provider number so an employer or professional body can check it.
Does this course meet the legal requirement under the Health and Care Act 2022?
Not on its own. The requirement applies to CQC-registered providers in England, and the 2025 code of practice says all staff must complete at least 90 minutes of e-learning and a minimum of one hour of live, interactive training co-delivered by people with lived experience, or a full day for staff who provide care. A self-study course cannot provide the live part. If you are a registered provider, use this course as pre-learning and arrange the Oliver McGowan training through NHS England or your integrated care board.
Who needs learning disability and autism awareness training?
Anyone whose work brings them into contact with the public, because people with a learning disability and autistic people use every service. The Equality Act 2010 duty to make reasonable adjustments applies to shops, schools, transport, housing, leisure and employers across Great Britain, not only to health and care.
What does this course not cover?
It does not qualify you to assess, diagnose or deliver specialist support, and it does not cover positive behaviour support plans or restrictive practice in detail. It gives you the awareness to recognise needs, adjust how you work and signpost well.
How do I make a reasonable adjustment if someone has not told me they are disabled?
The duty for services is anticipatory, so build adjustments in before anyone asks: clear signage and plain-language information, a quieter time or space, extra time, one question at a time, and a way to check the person has understood. If someone tells you what helps them, follow it and record it so they are not asked twice.
How long do I keep access?
You keep your access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years from the day you buy. Your certificate PDF is yours to keep.
What is the free refresher?
Lift College recommends refreshing this course every 3 years. When your date comes round, you can retake the latest version free and get a new certificate. We email you 30 days before.
Does it count towards my CPD?
Yes. The course is 2 hours of learning, shown on your CPD Standards Office accredited certificate, so you can log the hours in your CPD record.
Can I get my money back?
Yes. Ask within 14 days of paying and we refund you in full.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. Your receipt shows the course, the date and the amount paid, and you can pass it to your employer. Buying for a team? Open a free organisation account: every course is £16.99, and you can pay by card or invoice with your PO.
Can my team do this course in another language?
Yes, on an organisation account with 10 or more places. Your team can study Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training in Polish, Romanian, Punjabi, Urdu or Welsh, prepared within 1 working day of your order. The final test and the certificate stay in the English course name, so the certificate is the one every employer recognises. Tell us the languages you need when you order or ask for a quote.
Where can I do learning disability and autism awareness training online in the UK?
Lift College offers Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training online for £19.99, pay once. It is 2 hours of learning in 5 short modules, written for workplaces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the England-only statutory requirement explained. Your accredited CPD certificate is ready the same day you pass.
How long does online learning disability and autism awareness training take?
Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training is 2 hours of learning in 5 short modules, each with a knowledge check. You can finish it in one sitting or across several and pick up where you left off on any device. The final test needs 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
How much does Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training cost online?
Lift College's Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training is £19.99, pay once, with no subscription. Training a team? It is £16.99 a course on a free organisation account.
How is Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training assessed?
By a short knowledge check after each of the 5 modules and a final test. You need 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes, and your accredited CPD certificate is ready the same day you pass.
Can I start Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Training today?
Yes. You start the moment you pay, on any device, and you can finish the 2 hours of learning in one sitting or across several. Your accredited CPD certificate is ready the same day you pass. Buying for a team? Open a free organisation account.
Neurodiversity Awareness Training
What neurodiversity means, how neurodivergent colleagues experience work, and the adjustments, law and conversations that make a workplace inclusive. 2 hours, £19.99.
Mental Capacity Act Training
The five principles, assessing capacity, best interests decisions, restraint, planning ahead and deprivation of liberty. 2 hours, £19.99.
Equality and Diversity Training
The Equality Act 2010 in plain words. Protected characteristics, types of discrimination and reasonable adjustments.