Event summary

Date

Start Time

End Time

Middletown Centre for Autism, Middletown, Armagh

Closed

Autism and Challenging Behaviour in the Classroom: This course is designed for Educational Professionals working with children and young people with autism who engage in behaviours that challenge in the school setting. The training focuses specifically on how the core features of autism may impact upon the occurrence of challenging behaviours and how to apply Low Arousal Approaches both proactively and reactively in the classroom setting. 
 

Expected Outcomes

• Better understanding of autism, challenging behaviour and link with well-being.
• Become familiar with a model for managing well-being and supporting regulation 
• Learn about practical strategies to improve wellbeing of children and young people with autism
• Awareness of Low Arousal Approaches as both proactive and reactive behaviour management strategies
• Feel more confident and in control 
• Gain some useful practical resources for classroom setting. 
 

Course Overview / Content 
The aim of this course is to share information with participants about the most effective means of managing challenging behaviour displayed by a pupil with autism in the classroom. Though occurrence of challenging behaviour is not part of the diagnostic criteria for autism, participants will learn how the core features of autism often result in increased frustration and anxiety across social and learning contexts. Furthermore, participants will gain an understanding of the importance of looking at the child or young person’s general well-being and how to develop a positive plan to best support the child in the classroom.
This course draws on video footage, individual case-studies and workshop based activities to explore the content areas outlined.
Please note, this course does not include any content relating to physical interventions used to de-escalate incidents of challenging behaviour.

Content
• Participants will learn about how the core features of autism impact upon the occurrence of challenging behaviour. 
• Consider why regular school-based sanctions may not be effective in managing instances of challenging behaviour for a pupil with autism. 
• Overview of factors influencing well-being and relationship to challenging behaviour.
• Effective classroom-based proactive strategies that may prove useful in improving well-being and minimising the likelihood that challenging behaviour will occur.
• Components of a functional behaviour assessment and Behaviour Support Plan; Consider proactive and reactive strategies based on low arousal approaches.
 

Location

Middletown Centre for Autism
35 Church Street
Middletown
Armagh
BT60 4HZ
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Hilary Virtue

Hilary Virtue: Following her undergraduate degree in psychology Hilary Virtue spent 7 years in the UK as an ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) tutor, special needs assistant and home support worker for individuals with autism, gaining experience of mainstream, special class and special school settings. Since qualifying as an Educational Psychologist Hilary has worked in Dublin for St. Michaels House services and the HSE providing consultation, assessment, training and intervention for children and young people with autism and intellectual disability. Hilary's areas of special interest are positive behavior management and relationship and sexuality education.
Sarah Devlin

Sarah Devlin

Sarah Devlin is a Specialist Teacher in Middletown Centre for Autism. She has gained experience both as a teacher and as a Specialist Behaviour Therapist for children and young people with autism.  Sarah was coordinator of a National Community Outreach Programme for children with autism throughout Ireland.  Whilst in this role, she gained significant experience in liaising with multi-disciplinary teams, assessment and the development of learning and behaviour support plans, as well as training parents and teachers in autism specific interventions. Previously, she provided consultation services and training for parents and professionals throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Sarah has a special interest in Applied Behaviour Analysis, and is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA).

Event summary

Date

Start Time

End Time

Middletown Centre for Autism , Middletown , Armagh

Closed