Course | Autism Awareness in Education Training

Price

£30.00 + VAT 20% (£6.00)

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Facilitator

Fintan O’Regan
ADHD and Neurodiversity Expert

Fintan O’Regan (MA Education Management, PGCE, BSc Hons) is one of the leading Behaviour and Learning specialists in the UK. He is currently an ADHD, Neurodiversity and Behaviour Consultant for a number of schools and organisations as well as an associate lecturer for Leicester University, the National Association of Special Needs, The Helen Arkell Charity and the Institute of Education.

He is the former Vice Chairman of UKAP and the European ADHD Alliance. He has been the chairperson of the European ADHD Taskforce and is a current member of the Special Education Consortium, the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee, a full council member of the Council of Registered Schools for the Teaching of Dyslexia and the London Child and Development Centre.

Description

Duration: 3 hours.

This course teaches those working in education settings how to effectively support autistic children and young people in their care. It explores what autism is, and looks at the concepts of neurodiversity and the autism spectrum, as well as addressing some common misconceptions.

You’ll learn that autistic individuals share common areas of difference, but will have their own profile of strengths and challenges. The course explores how those areas of difference might impact a child or young person. It will make you aware of the importance of understanding autism within education and give you knowledge of the diagnostic process. You will also learn how to use the Graduated Approach to provide effective, individualised support, and benefit from practical supportive strategies that can be used in educational settings.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this course, you will:
- Understand what autism is, and the terminology associated with it.
- Understand the need to approach autism as a difference, rather than a disorder or impairment.
- Understand how autism may be identified and diagnosed.
- Understand the areas of difference and how these may affect a child.
- Understand that every autistic individual experiences autism differently and that an individual’s strengths, aspirations, and needs should drive any provision.
- Understand how to apply the Graduated Approach to support a child’s learning and development.
- Understand and identify some reasonable adjustments that can be made to universal provision to support autistic learners in the classroom.

Course Content

- Module 1: Introduction to Autism
What is autism?, why is understanding autism important?, inclusive practice and removing barriers, autism timeline, common misconceptions, the autism spectrum, describing autism, medical vs. social models, neurodiversity and neurodivergence.

- Module 2: Areas of Difference
Areas of strength, communication and language, differences in social interaction, repetitive interests, behaviours, and activities, monotropism, sensory differences, scenario exercises (Choose Your Path options), meltdowns, shutdowns and autistic fatigue, potentially co-occurring challenges, autism and mental health.

- Module 3: Identifying Autism
Pre-diagnosis, diagnostic criteria, masking, autistic girls and women, cultural differences and diagnosis, pathological demand avoidance (PDA), education, health, and care (EHC) plans.

- Module 4: Supporting Autistic Learners
Good autism practice in education, an inclusive whole-school culture, bullying, applying the Graduated Approach, an individualised approach, person-centred thinking tools, provision framework, working with parents and carers.

- Module 5: Practical Classroom Strategies
General strategies, managing uncertainty, anxiety and overwhelm, recognising and expressing emotion, managing uncertainty, supporting transitions, calming strategies, supporting communication and interaction, supporting sensory differences, supporting students with PDA.

Accredited by CPD

All of High Speed Training's courses are accredited by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to universally accepted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.

Suitable For:

This course is designed for anyone who works with (including as a volunteer) autistic children and young people, in an education setting, including teachers, teaching assistants, SENCos, early years providers, and childminders. It is also suitable for those supporting autistic children and young people in before and after school provisions, activities, and clubs.

For further information, please visit High Speed Training website.