Student Experiences – Autism in Research, Theory & Practice (Michelle Sporle)

Michelle is currently a practicing counsellor and serves as the strategic lead for a careers’ education program. She is a passionate advocate for inclusive practices and personal growth, deeply committed to helping others flourish. She recently completed the PPG Accredited Level 5 Diploma Autism in Research, Theory & Practice for Managers & Practitioners. 

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

Taking the Accredited Level 5 Diploma in Autism Research, Theory & Practice for Managers and Practitioners has been an important step in both my personal and professional development. As an autistic individual, my journey with autism has been deeply personal, and this course provided an opportunity to deepen my understanding and enhance my ability to support others. This course allowed me to expand my knowledge about autism, not just from my own experiences, but through a structured and comprehensive educational framework.

I wanted to learn more about the diverse experiences within the autistic community and to grow my knowledge base on the topic. I wanted a greater depth of theoretical knowledge and research in the field so that I could better shape my work from an informed standpoint. It was important to me to be able to grow and explore my understanding in a safe space, allowing me to form my own views and opinions from a blend of my learnings and lived experience.

I felt that completing this course would give me a solid grounding in knowledge to shape my own development and professional practice, beyond my lived experience awareness. As I progressed in my own self-awareness journey, I increasingly recognised the power of advocacy, and I believed this course would help me grow my confidence and knowledge to become an advocate in this space. The joy of learning and the potential for personal growth were significant motivators for me to apply. I hoped that by applying, I would build enough knowledge and connections to make a meaningful impact in this space and promote a more inclusive and understanding society.

What are you taking away from your learning experience?

I have reflected a lot during this learning journey and since I completed the course. I think I have taken away more from the course than I can perhaps put simply into words. There is a wealth of knowledge, practical skills, and insight that I have gained from this learning experience that will shape my next steps within this space.

I would go as far as to say there have been transformative elements in my learning journey, particularly from my interactions with my tutor on the course, who provided a safe space to grow and explore both personally and professionally. This was an unexpected part of my journey but one that will stay with me for a long time and has influenced my next steps on my career pathway. I now have a much broader knowledge on the topic, and I have also learned a considerable amount about researching, presenting findings, and articulating opinions. My academic writing and self-belief in both my style and work have grown as part of this course.

The knowledge I have gained is already impacting my practice in both my role within career education and my counseling position with a local charity. The reflective parts of the learning really got me thinking about the impact of my own autistic journey, and the knowledge I gained helped me shift my self-perception in many positive ways. Additionally, I feel more capable of advocating for change within my work environment and ensuring that I embrace diversity in the work I do.

This course has encouraged me to build a professional network, and I am genuinely excited to see where this path may take me. The course made me reflect on real-world applications of the knowledge, which has brought the work to life because, for me, this is where the magic happens.

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

I am a believer in squiggly career pathways, so I am open to seeing where this journey takes me. In my counseling work, I have already embedded the learnings from the Positive Psychology Guild course into my practice with clients. I have also advocated for a greater understanding of both neurodiversity and autism among my counseling peers. Within my career education work, this qualification has helped ensure that we consider equity and inclusion within our strategic planning, enhancing the work we do.

I plan to use my qualification to support advocacy in this space and to share my knowledge to promote more inclusive workplaces and educational environments. Personally, the development and greater acceptance of myself were the biggest gifts the course could give, and anything beyond this is a bonus. I plan to use this knowledge as a base and continue learning more about the topic. The positive role modeling I saw during the course provided the final motivation I needed to apply for a master’s qualification in this field, which I am hoping to begin this autumn term.

Who knows what the future holds—be it consultancy, counseling work, research and development, publishing, or something else—it is an exciting journey to be on.

Bio:

Michelle is a passionate advocate for inclusive practices and personal growth, deeply committed to helping others flourish. Her lived experiences with autism and ADHD drive her dedication to applying positive psychology principles in real-world situations, both professionally and personally. Michelle describes her career journey as a “squiggly path,” which has given her with a broad range of experiences and transferable skills. She thrives in fields she is passionate about and is determined to adhere to this principle as she continues her career journey. With a strong commitment to continuous self-improvement and a love of learning, Michelle is currently a practicing counsellor and serves as the strategic lead for a careers’ education program. Her work is a testament to her belief in the power of passion and perseverance in creating meaningful change.