Package summary
Start Date
End Date
Middletown Centre for Autism
5 Week Parent Training Programme
Autism and the Teenage Years (10+)
Programme Content:
- Autism and the Teenage Years (10+)
- Supporting Emotional Regulation
- Building Strong Communication
- Navigating Sensory Processing Differences
- Growing Life Skills
This five-week programme has been designed for parents and family members living with autistic teenagers aged 10+.
The Centre also provides a similar 5-week course for primary school children & professionals.
Please check the Centre’s website for details. www.middletownautism.com
Notes
Courses in package
Autism and the Teenage Years (10+)
Event summary
Date
Start Time
End Time
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar, Mayo
Booking closes
This training session will share practical, supportive ways to understand and appreciate the unique needs of autistic teenagers. The focus of this course is on exploring key concepts such as neurodiversity, communication differences, and patterns of thinking in adolescence. It will cover areas such as masking, burnout, and the teenage brain, highlighting how these may impact the young person’s wellbeing and offering practical ways to provide support at home.
Notes
Location
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre
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Tara Vernon
Tara’s work is neurodiversity-informed and autism affirming. Prior to joining the Middletown team, Tara worked across home, school, and external agency settings to provide autism specific specialist teaching, training, and emotional regulation support in these environments.
She is a member of both the Psychological Society of Ireland and the Teaching Council of Ireland and is a certified Sleep Counsellor. Tara recently completed a Master of Arts in Autism Studies.
Gemma O'Neill
Gemma has extensive experience working collaboratively with educators, families and multidisciplinary professionals to develop individualised approaches that recognise autistic strengths, differences and support needs across school and home environments.
In her current role, Gemma is involved in the development and delivery of autism-specific professional learning and training across Ireland, working with educators and professionals, including within higher education. She also contributes to the development of training programmes and the coordination of large-scale professional learning events, bringing professionals together to share and showcase effective practice.
Gemma holds a Master’s Degree in Special Educational from Queen’s University Belfast. Her professional interests include neuroaffirming autism practice, inclusive education, professional learning, and supporting autistic learners to participate meaningfully in education.
Supporting Emotional Regulation
Event summary
Date
Start Time
End Time
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar, Mayo
Booking closes
This training session will explore and discuss the external environmental demands and stress experienced by many autistic young people which can contribute to anxiety experiences. The focus will be on practical, supportive strategies to better understand and respond to the emotional needs of autistic teenagers.
Notes
Location
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre
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Dee Hogan
Dee has extensive experience teaching and supporting autistic children and young people. Her experiences include Pre-school, Early Intervention Autism Classes, Primary Autism Classes, Mainstream Primary and Special Schools.
She has written, lectured and assessed modules on the Special Needs Assistant and Level Four Autism qualifications, as professional development for parents and professionals. Dee has also worked as a part time Lecturer with University College Cork designing and delivering the Diploma in Autism Studies as well as providing training for teachers, third level students, parents and professionals.
Dee’s training specialisms are Reframing Behaviour, Early Intervention, Classroom Strategies, and Transitions. Dee holds a MEd in Special Education Autism from the University of Birmingham.
Building Strong Communication
Event summary
Date
Start Time
End Time
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar, Mayo
Booking closes
This training session will explore the differences between neurotypical and autistic communication styles. It will focus on helping participants understand how to recognise and appreciate these differences, offering practical ways to adjust their own communication to better support autistic young people at home.
Notes
Location
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre
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Vicki Smith
Previously, Vicki has worked as a speech and language therapist in childrens disability network teams, early intervention, and primary care services. She has worked with children and young people 0-19 years with complex needs and provided multidisciplinary assessments and intervention and speech and language specific assessments and interventions. She has worked across a range of home and school environments.
Vicki has experience in autism diagnostic assessments and the provision of post-diagnostic training for parents and the child or young person.
Navigating Sensory Processing Differences
Event summary
Date
Start Time
End Time
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar, Mayo
Booking closes
Sensory processing refers to the ability of a young person 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, the young person can engage in daily functional activities and social interaction. Sensory processing differences are prevalent in autistic young people and can affect every aspect of life and development. This session examines the sensory processing differences experienced by many autistic young people and will demonstrate how such differences impact on learning, play, social interactions, and behaviour.
Notes
Location
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre
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Jill McCanney
Growing Life Skills
Event summary
Date
Start Time
End Time
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar, Mayo
Booking closes
This training session will offer guidance on using visual supports to enhance the teaching of life skills. The course will focus on understanding the learning styles, strengths, interests, and needs of autistic young people. This will help those supporting the young person to promote communication, independence, and essential life skills, creating a more functional and supportive home environment.
Notes
Location
The TF Royal Hotel and Theatre
Get Directions
Gemma O'Neill
Gemma has extensive experience working collaboratively with educators, families and multidisciplinary professionals to develop individualised approaches that recognise autistic strengths, differences and support needs across school and home environments.
In her current role, Gemma is involved in the development and delivery of autism-specific professional learning and training across Ireland, working with educators and professionals, including within higher education. She also contributes to the development of training programmes and the coordination of large-scale professional learning events, bringing professionals together to share and showcase effective practice.
Gemma holds a Master’s Degree in Special Educational from Queen’s University Belfast. Her professional interests include neuroaffirming autism practice, inclusive education, professional learning, and supporting autistic learners to participate meaningfully in education.