Package summary

Middletown Centre for Autism
5 Week Parent Training Programme
Autism and the Teenage Years (10+) 
Programme Content:

  1. Autism and the Teenage Years (10+)
  2. Supporting Emotional Regulation
  3. Building Strong Communication
  4. Navigating Sensory Processing Differences
  5. Growing Life Skills

This five-week programme has been designed for parents and family members living with a teenager with autism 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 & 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 & Theatre

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Tara Vernon

Tara Vernon

Tara Vernon is an Autism Trainer Advisor with Middletown Centre for Autism where a key element of her role is to holistically, support autistic children and young people in their education.

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 O'Neill

Gemma O'Neill is an Autism Trainer/Advisor at Middletown Centre for Autism, bringing over 20 years of experience in education, including her role as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). In her career, Gemma has worked as a Specialist Teacher at Middletown Centre, supporting autistic children and young people across various educational settings, including Preschools, mainstream Primary and Post Primary schools, autism classes in mainstream environments, and Special Schools. Gemma also brings considerable experience in developing and delivering home programmes for autistic children, working closely with families to foster learning and development.
Gemma holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Queen’s University, Belfast. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, classroom supports, differentiation techniques and transitions.

Supporting Emotional Regulation

Event summary

Date

Start Time

End Time

The TF Royal Hotel & 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 & Theatre

Get Directions
Dee Hogan

Dee Hogan

Dee Hogan is an Autism Trainer/Advisor in Middletown Centre for Autism. 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 & 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 & Theatre

Get Directions
Vicki Smith

Vicki Smith

Vicki Smith is a specialist speech and language therapist with Middletown Centre for Autism. Vicki has a BSc. in Clinical Speech and Language Studies from Trinity’s College Dublin.
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 & 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 & Theatre

Get Directions
Jill McCanney

Jill McCanney

Jill McCanney is an Autism Trainer/Advisor and Autism Specialist Occupational Therapist in Middletown Centre for Autism. She has Postgraduate qualifications in Sensory Integration, including SIPT registration, and has been a tutor on the Sensory Integration MSc course. She also holds a Master’s in Clinical Research. Jill worked in Special Schools for over seven years prior to commencement of her current post. She has extensive experience in the assessment of sensory motor difficulties and in the development and provision of intervention programmes for autistic students.

Growing Life Skills

Event summary

Date

Start Time

End Time

The TF Royal Hotel & 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 & Theatre

Get Directions
Gemma O'Neill

Gemma O'Neill

Gemma O'Neill is an Autism Trainer/Advisor at Middletown Centre for Autism, bringing over 20 years of experience in education, including her role as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). In her career, Gemma has worked as a Specialist Teacher at Middletown Centre, supporting autistic children and young people across various educational settings, including Preschools, mainstream Primary and Post Primary schools, autism classes in mainstream environments, and Special Schools. Gemma also brings considerable experience in developing and delivering home programmes for autistic children, working closely with families to foster learning and development.
Gemma holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Queen’s University, Belfast. Her areas of expertise include curriculum development, classroom supports, differentiation techniques and transitions.