Event summary

Date

Start Time

End Time

St. Catherine's Special School, Newcastle, Wicklow

Closed

Autism, Complex Behaviours and Sensory Processing

Research has shown that people with autism may experience difficulties with processing the sensory stimuli in the world around them. Where a child or young person presents with additional severe learning difficulties, these difficulties may be further exacerbated. This course is designed to look specifically at the sensory processing needs of individuals who have autism and other complex learning needs (such as communication difficulties, physical or sensory impairment, attention difficulties and medical needs).
This session will examine how the core features of autism and severe learning difficulties can influence the behaviour of students and young people. Finding the function of challenging behaviour will be highlighted as well as strategies for providing alternative, appropriate behavioural interventions. A guide to writing effective behaviour support plans will also be discussed.

Expected Outcomes
Participants will:
• Understand how the core features of autism can influence behaviour.
• Gain an understanding of the concept of sensory processing and how this relates to behaviour. 
• Gain practical ideas for remediating difficulties relating to sensory processing, including problematic behaviours, which stem from sensory seeking or avoiding.
• Understand the importance of identifying the function of a behaviour.
• Gain strategies for safely managing challenging behaviours in educational contexts, and for providing alternative, more appropriate behaviours, which may serve the same function.
• Gain an understanding of the core elements of an effective behaviour support plan.

Course Overview / Content 
Overview:
• What is sensory processing?
• Core features of autism and severe learning difficulties (including comorbid diagnoses/conditions).
• How can difficulties with sensory processing present for children with autism and severe learning difficulties?
• What strategies can we implement which may help?
• How these core features can affect behaviour.
• Deciphering the functions of behaviour in the home.
• Strategies for management.
• Writing a behaviour support plan.
 

Location

St. Catherine's Special School
Killmullen Lane
Newcastle
Wicklow
A63 X935
Get Directions

Kate Cullen

Kate Cullen

Kate Cullen is an Autism Specialist Occupational Therapist for children and young people. She has Postgraduate qualifications in Sensory Integration, including SIPT registration and is an Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner. Kate works within a Child and Adolescent Autism diagnostic and intervention Service. She is a tutor and assessor for the graduate Certificate in Autism Studies course delivered in partnership with Middletown Centre for Autism and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. Kate previously worked as an Occupational Therapist for Middletown Centre for Autism and in Special Schools with children and young people with physical disabilities, developmental disorders, and autism, aged 3-19 years, providing assessment, intervention within trans-disciplinary and multiagency teams. She has experience writing and delivering training on autism related topics to parents, professionals, undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has delivered programmes in schools and homes addressing difficulties in engaging in personal care, life skills, leisure, school, and work as result of motor coordination, sensory processing, sensory motor and perception for children and young people with autism. She has training in a variety of therapeutic approaches

Event summary

Date

Start Time

End Time

St. Catherine's Special School , Newcastle , Wicklow

Closed