Positive Psychology Academy Student Experiences – Autism (Karen Beckett)

Karen Beckett is a Certified Strengths-Based Practitioner (Autism) who graduated from the Level 5 Diploma Autism in Research, Theory & Practice for Managers & Practitioners in 2024. Below is a summary of her experience with PPG to date.

What motivated you to apply for and engage in this course?          

When I first began studying the Level 5 Diploma in Autism Research, Theory & Practice for Managers & Practitioners, which is accredited by the Positive Psychology Guild, I was working as an Autism Matters Advisor for a charity in Swindon called DASH (Discovering Autism Spectrum Happiness). I was keen to excel in my new role and to make a difference, so I asked if I could enrol on the course to learn and share my knowledge with the company and hence, the clients.

I have always been extremely enthusiastic about my work, first as a Hotel General Manager, then as a Trainer and Teacher for my own training company, Elite Progression, educating adults on accredited and numerous original courses. However, I felt my passion for teaching rapidly escalate, when I began working with learners with specific learning differences. I became fascinated by their diverse, but unique gifts and talents, their intriguing learning styles and strategies, and the skills and knowledge that I was able to learn from them! 

I have a twin-sister, who has 3 immediate, neuro-diverse family members. Much of my motivation developed as the children grew up, and I began to learn about their differences, gifts and their individual struggles. I observed first hand, how desperate and anxious they all felt when they were totally misunderstood, considered lazy, uncooperative and even obtuse, which is ludicrous because they are actually, extremely intelligent, just in need of direction and support. This hugely affected their self-esteems and hindered their own personal journeys. I applied for this course with aims to build connections, enhance my knowledge and skills, and to apply these skills to help my autistic family members, learners at my workplace and to be an advocate for a neuro-diverse, inclusive community.

What are you taking away from your learning experience?              

I have always had a thirst for learning myself, and having retrained to join the  teaching profession (specifically English at first), then to teach dyslexic learners, I decided to study autism to improve: my depth of knowledge, to appropriately develop my teaching and mentoring skills, and to embrace each person’s individual learning style. It was important to identify innovative teaching methods and activities to ensure all learners enjoyed the experience and could reach their full potentials. 

I had already identified tremendous gaps in society regarding: absence of basic awareness of autism and neurodiversity, lack of and/or late diagnosis, poor support, understanding and encouragement, resulting in low levels of employment and high levels of anxiety. Now, I feel obligated, but also excited, about being part of a transformation of the current poor perception of neurodiversity, especially autism, to that of hope, positive growth and progression in employment and life skills. This course has given me the confidence to believe more in myself and my ability to problem solve and make appropriate recommendations, which will be relevant and effective.

I chose this particular course because each unit involved additional research, critical analysis, application, reflection and recommendations for the future, which I felt were crucial to my own personal development. Consequently, I was able to positively utilise these to increase my knowledge,  research and present findings effectively, especially using online platforms. I enjoyed doing the Poster Presentation and I am going to use these skills to present training in the future. 

My tutor, Dr Reece Coker, being autistic himself, is extremely inspirational to me. He is an excellent model of personal and professional growth and achievement to the highest level, and providing him as an example, will in turn help all neuro-diverse and neuro-typical students alike.

How do you plan to use your course learning in the future?

This course has inspired me in so many different ways. I identified my strengths and weaknesses and now have a clearer understanding of how I can contribute to society and make a positive difference.  I love researching and learning and have discovered particular strengths in gathering and presenting findings and making appropriate, effective recommendations. If I had the funding, I would ideally progress onto the Level 7 Diploma in Applied Positive Psychology Research, but unfortunately, I am not in a position to do so, which is a shame.

I have decided to set-up a Charity or a Community Interest Company (CIC) to help autistic learners, who slip through the net because they are not eligible for support. This is frequently the case, simply because their severe social anxieties are so detrimental that they are self-isolated, and unable to mix with the community because they are confined to the house. I am planning to meet clients in their own houses initially, with an aim to build confidence and social skills, which in time, will develop enough to get them out into the community, with me as their support. 

I am planning to become a Professional Member of the Positive Psychology Guild and to make use of the Continuous Personal Development units, attend PPG events, develop a network of connections and be included on the PPG register of practitioners. 

I am extremely excited about my future studies and employment opportunities and would like to write articles and possibly a book too. Who knows what the future will bring.

About Karen Beckett

Karen is neuro-typical, but has been personally involved with her twin-sister’s neuro-diverse family for nearly 30 years now. As a passionate and enthusiastic teacher, she has always written and delivered inclusive lessons and lectures, and is approachable and patient with all learners. Karen’s overall aim is to help everyone reach their full potential, using their own unique, yet effective learning styles. She is a strong believer in life-long learning and continuous personal development and has demonstrated this by her academic achievements to date.

Karen qualified as a teacher almost 20 years ago, and tendered for Family and Adult Learning contracts, funded by Swindon Borough Council, for over 15 years. She trained to Level 5 in Specific Learning Differences (Dyslexia), and worked with many vulnerable adult learners, who achieved accredited certificates in Numeracy, Literacy, Food Safety, Health and Safety, Jamie Oliver Cooking & Nutrition.

Her current objective is to set-up and start a Charity or Community Interest Company (CIC) named Autism Support, Development & Communication (ASD/C), which she hopes will be successful by the end of 2025.