Event summary
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Scoil Iósaf Primary School, Newcastle West, Limerick
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Autism and Sensory Processing This session centres sensory processing as a core aspect of autistic experience and identity, rather than a difficulty to be fixed or managed. Sensory differences are explored as access needs that significantly shape autistic childrens participation in learning, relationships, and daily school life. The session supports educators to critically examine how typical primary school environments, noise, movement, visual clutter, transitions, and pace, can either support presence or act as barriers that overwhelm or exclude. Primary School Professionals will be supported to: Understand sensory processing differences across all sensory systems, including interoception, with clear links to classroom learning and behaviour. Recognise how mainstream classroom environments often privilege certain nervous systems while marginalising others. Reframe withdrawal, shutdown,, distress, or reduced engagement as sensory communication, not misbehaviour. Identify and implement practical, respectful environmental and routine based adjustments that support regulation, dignity, and sustained participation across the school day.
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