For Professionals

Visual Strategies for pupils in Mainstream Education

About this course

Visual Strategies for Students in Mainstream Education
This course will provide participants with information and practical strategies in the functional use of visual supports. The focus of this course is in understanding the learning style and needs of the cognitively able autistic young person and how these can be facilitated via the use of adapted visual strategies. This will assist those working with the young person in the teaching of everyday skills, and to support the transfer of these to increase opportunities for independence. 
Participants will:
• Gain an understanding of how being autistic can affect everyday routines and experiences. 
• Develop skills in assessment and prioritisation of strategies for young people 
• Reinforcement of the individual’s preference for “visual teaching.”
• Reinforcement and discussion of overload of auditory stimuli including verbal commands. 
• Gain an understanding of how to choose what is to be taught via visual strategies and then how to teach that skill in a one-to-one setting with a view to generalisation. 
• Discuss how to assess and develop the use of visual strategies in their own organisation.
• Observe a range of video footage, practical examples and reading material in the use of visual strategies.
Course Overview 
This course will emphasise the importance of understanding autism and the influence on the child or young person. It will reinforce the need for reduction of verbal commands and the increase of an individualised visual approach via assessment and one to one skill development. Specific detail will be given on the development and implementation of visual strategies within the teaching role and in specific areas to include social communication and functional living.

About the trainers

Tracey McGovern

Tracey McGovern

Tracey is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist dedicated to supporting autistic children and young learners Communication. With nearly 30 years of experience across special educational needs (SEN), primary, and early years settings, she is passionate about helping to encourage and support opportunities for autistic communication and engagement across all environments.

Throughout her career, she has worked extensively within and across health and education, conducting comprehensive assessments and delivering tailored therapeutic supports. Additionally, she has designed and supported the delivery of training and guidance programmes within Middletown Centre for Autism, empowering educators, support staff, families, and peers, with practical tools within a Neuro affirmative framework.

Claire Smyton

Claire Smyton

Claire Smyton is Specialist Teacher in Middletown Centre for Autism and has 20 years’ experience working with autistic children and young people. Prior to this, Claire worked as a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator in a Post Primary School.  Claire has also taught in an Autism Learning Support Class, within a Mainstream Primary School and in the Autism Advisory and Intervention Service, as a Support Teacher.  Claire is also a parent of an autistic child.  Through Claire’s experiences as a parent and teacher, she has gained extensive experience in developing and using resources and varied teaching approaches with autistic children and young people. Claire also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Autism and has a particular interest and experience in 'whole school' strategic planning in best autism practice across all settings.