Remember that special ‘Day One’?

77 days ago, we shared a photo of a group of mums starting their Supporting Autism in Education course with Successful Mums.

There were nerves, excitement and plenty of unknowns.

For many, it was their first experience of learning in years, some even decades. Walking through the door on that first day felt daunting. Some were rebuilding confidence after a career break, others were navigating a career change, and many were taking their very first step towards their next chapter.

Fast forward 77 days and the last session has taken place.

Lived experience has been recognised.

The nerves have been replaced with confidence.

The unknown has become a clear pathway. Jobs have been secured.

Yes, each person leaves with a Level 3 Understanding Autism qualification tucked under their arm but they have gained so much more than a certificate.

– New confidence
– New friendships
– A supportive network
– Knowledge of the many career opportunities available in education and beyond
– Belief in themselves
– The courage to take the next step…

Along the way, they have met employers, guest speakers and experts by experience, including Michael and Grace from The Oaks Specialist College, who brought the theory of autism to life. 

Many of the women also have personal experience of neurodivergence. This experience brings its own transferable skills such as empathy, resilience, communication, adaptability and problem-solving skills,  qualities that forward-thinking employers increasingly value.

I popped into the final session to congratulate the group and the atmosphere was amazing: positive, energised and full of optimism for what comes next, starting new jobs, new careers and clarity around next steps.

So much has been covered in a relatively short space of time, in a way that is practical, supportive and digestible.

The result? These women are leaving with a qualification, a clearer understanding of the many hidden and rewarding roles available in education and for many, new jobs already secured or within reach.

We’re incredibly proud of every single one of them. 

At Successful Mums, it’s never just about the qualification. It’s about helping women realise what they’re capable of, championing the value of their lived experience and supporting them into work that works for them and their families. Huge thank you to Dee and Lucie from our team, both experienced in teaching, autism and lived experience too, all contributing to the tapestry of this amazing course.

If you’d like to learn more about some of the inspiring guest speakers who supported this programme and why lived experience counts, you can read two articles from our Head of Education Lisa Harriss HERE.  These explore why lived experience can be one of the most powerful and valuable assets we bring to the workplace.

You can find out more about our Supporting SEN in Education course HERE – also feel free to get in touch if you’d like to find out about guest speaking opportunities at hello@successfulmums.co.uk

Note: For more information on the Autism Society here  As an autistic person, you may or may not consider yourself to be disabled. However, autistic people meet the legal definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 (and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland) and are protected in UK law regardless of whether they identify as disabled or not.