Joint

Autism, Visual Strategies and Life Skills

About this course

Visual strategies are widely used when living and working with children and young people with autism as they: 
•    Complement the learning style of many with autism. 
•    Can be introduced alongside other intervention strategies.  
•    Are adaptable, portable and can be used in most situations. 


The use of visual strategies can have a notable impact on how a child with autism experiences life, as they help to clarify expectations and make abstract concepts more concrete. Visual strategies support children as they develop effective communication, appropriate social interaction, and positive behaviour skills.


Life Skills
This training will examine the broad definition of life skills, within the contexts of home, school, play and personal care, and how the core difficulties, associated with autism, directly affect the development of such skills. 
It will demonstrate how life skills can be improved and facilitated within the home and school environments. This will include increasing independence in family and classroom activities, the daily routines of the family home, the classroom, within play and personal care activities, e.g. toileting.

Notes

View course notes (PDF) (opens in new window)

Location

Education Centre Tralee Co.Kerry, Dromtacker , Tralee , Kerry

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About the trainers

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.

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.