Autism and the Primary School Programme (Joint) Online Webinars 30.09.24 - 21.10.24

Autism and Communication.
This training opportunity explores the differences between non-autistic and autistic communication styles. It equips participants with the knowledge needed to recognise and respect communication differences, as well as adjust their own communication approach to effectively assist autistic children in both home and school settings.

Participants will:

• Explore current relevant theories pertaining to communication differences
• Consider their own communication tendencies and how these can either help or hinder autistic individuals in their communication
• Explore various supportive practices to enhance both the understanding and expression of communication in a supportive manner.

This session explores the differences in non-autistic vs autistic communication styles. It provides delegates with an understanding of how to appreciate communication differences and adapt their communication style to better support autistic children and young people at home and school.
 

Delegates will:

• Explore current relevant theories related to communication differences
• Develop an understanding of their own communication preferences and how these might hinder or support the autistic communicator
• Explore a range of supportive practices in receptive, understanding, and expressive communication

Autism and Understanding Anxiety
This training course will help parents and education professionals understand the stresses autistic young people may experience, particularly within the Post Primary School environment.  The course will cover the external environmental factors and stressors that can contribute to anxiety in autistic young people.
 

Participants will understand:

• The connection between autism and anxiety, and the impact of anxiety on both the body and mind.
• The concepts of fatigue and masking in relation to anxiety from the perspective of an autistic young person.
• Supports for supporting autistic students in managing environmental, communication, sensory, emotional, and cognitive stressors to reduce anxiety in the school environment.
• Throughout the course, various supports and resources will be explored to help effectively support autistic students.

Autism and Reframing Behaviour
This training will introduce participants to the ongoing paradigm shift in understanding behaviour from a physiological perspective, drawing on research from neuroscience, psychology, and interpersonal neurobiology.

It will encourage participants to pause and reflect on their current beliefs and reactions to the behavioural differences presenting within their autistic students.

Participants will be supported to consider behavioural differences that are authentic to the autistic student and their invaluable role in maintaining joy in their lives.

Furthermore, participants will be supported to understand the underlying factors contributing to distressed behaviours, and how supporting professionals can help.

Specific topics will include:

• Understanding the ongoing paradigm shift in how we think about behaviour.
• Factors that contribute to distressed behaviour for an autistic student.
• Recognising the significance of neuroception and a sense of "felt safety" in promoting emotional regulation.

Participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the ongoing paradigm shift in how we think about "behaviour" presenting in our autistic children.
• To support participants to recognise their inner biases, judgements and beliefs that may be impacting upon how they support an autistic children in distress. 

Autism and Sensory Processing
Sensory processing refers to the ability of a child to register, interpret and respond to sensory information. This is a complex process involving all the sensory systems, auditory, gustatory, visual, olfactory, tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoception. When sensory processing is working well, a child can engage in daily activities and social interaction. Sensory processing differences are prevalent in autistic children and can affect every aspect of life and development.

This session examines the sensory processing differences experienced by many autistic children and will demonstrate how such differences impact on learning, play, social interactions, and behaviour for the primary school aged child.

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of the sensory processing differences.
• Appreciate how sensory processing differences can affect the child’s experience at school.
• Understand how sensory processing differences can influence the child’s participation in daily activities.
• Develop an understanding of general intervention supports to accommodate sensory processing differences in daily activities at school and beyond.
• How sensory processing differences can present in an autistic child.
• Supportive approaches to address sensory processing differences in school or the family home.