Event summary

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Online Training Webinar,

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This “Autism – Behind the Label” webinar will consider the effects of autistic thinking on self-regulation, wellbeing and learning style.

Using information from neuroscience, we will consider emotional development and how and why to use coregulation with autistic learners.

We will look at ways of exploring autistic identity in a positive but realistic manner, to lead students to better understand themselves and to be able to more effectively self-advocate.

We will explore ideas for using autistic focussed thinking to enhance access to the curriculum.

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Joan McDonald

Joan McDonald

Joan is a second level science teacher working independently as Posautive.
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

Online Training Webinar

Closed