Event summary
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Scoil Iósaf Primary School, Newcastle West, Limerick
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Autism and Reframing Behaviour Behaviour is reframed as meaningful communication arising from nervous system states, environmental demands, and relational context. The focus shifts from managing behaviour to creating conditions where regulation, participation, and connection are possible. Drawing on neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology, participants will: Examine the paradigm shift from "behaviour management" to understanding stress responses and adaptive behaviours. Explore how power, expectations, and lack of access can escalate distress. Understand neuroception and the central role of felt safety in learning and emotional regulation. Reflect on how adult regulation, environmental predictability, and relational trust support co-regulation. Consider how honouring autistic behaviour as adaptive preserves dignity, protects joy, and affirms the child's rightful place within the learning community.
Location
Scoil Iósaf Primary School
Knockane Road
Newcastle West
Limerick
V42 T180
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Joan McDonald
Following many years teaching in mainstream classrooms, Joan worked on individual planning in centres for adults with learning disabilities and those with mental health struggles.
She, then, became one of the first SENOs in Ireland, observing and providing school supports for students with atypical needs across eighty rural schools.
While studying for an M.Ed. in Autism, Joan was taught by and met a variety of autistic adults, which ultimately led to her own autism assessment. Prior to meeting such a diverse range of autistic people, Joan would only have recognised autism in people with profound and complex support needs.
Joan is passionate about using students’ interests to support autistic learners of all levels of cognitive ability to access education and contented lives.
She currently works on a variety of projects with agencies such as Middletown Centre for Autism, Dublin City University, Nua Healthcare, Fingal Libraries. In recent years, creating and delivering the Posauteen and Posaudult courses to help autistic people understand and advocate for themselves has been a major focus of Joan’s time.
Event summary
Date
Start Time
End Time
Scoil Iósaf Primary School , Newcastle West , Limerick