Event summary

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Online Webinars, Online, Armagh

Closed

Autism and Communication for students with additional Severe Learning Difficulties
For autistic children and young people with learning difficulties, the difficulties relating to communication can often be magnified. Many autistic children and young people have significant difficulties with speaking, language, and communication.
This session will examine why students experience difficulty not only with communication but also the motivation to communicate thus impinging on them becoming socially active partners. Understanding communication is as difficult as using language to express needs, wants or offer commentary. Autistic students are more likely to be successful communicators in environments that are designed to encourage and support their efforts. 
For the student to initiate effective communication, two conditions should be met.
1.    The student must see a reason to communicate, the Why. 
This is encouraged by using motivating materials and activities combined with creating situations in which he or she must communicate to make something happen. 
2.    The student must have a means to communicate, the How. 
The student may need to be taught the communicative behaviour needed, and visual supports for such communication will need to be available.

Participants will: 
•    Understand the various modes of communication used by students with learning difficulties.
•    Recognise that visual supports, as tools of communication with and for students, are critically important.
•    Understand the need to differentiate the visual support to meet specific needs in definite areas thus helping the student to understand you and develop his or her expressive means.
•    Understand how to use engagement as the starting point for communication.
•    Recognise various forms of communication and use of a variety of communicative tools.
•    Gain ideas for making meaningful communications with the student, even those who are largely non-verbal.
•    Look at the importance of motivation to learning and life.
•    Gain practical strategies and ideas for maximising the student’s motivation to learn and participate in social life.

Course Overview 
•    A look at verbal and non-verbal methods of communication.
•    Looking at novel approaches to communication such as intensive interaction and using technology to promote communication.
•    What is motivation and why is it important? 
•    How do we motivate autistic students with learning difficulties? 
•    Ideas for promoting greater engagement and motivation to participate in the wider social world.

Location

Online Webinars
Online
Online
Armagh
.
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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.

Event summary

Date

Start Time

End Time

Online Webinars , Online , Armagh

Closed