Event summary
Date
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St. Cecilia's Special School, Sligo, Sligo
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Autism, the Special School and Sensory Processing
Many autistic children and young people have differences in how they process the sensory stimuli in the world around them. Children and young people who presents with additional learning needs may experience more challenges with how they perceive and respond to sensory input. This course is designed to look specifically at the sensory processing needs of autistic children and young people with other complex learning needs, such as communication difficulties, physical or sensory difficulties, attention difficulties and medical needs.
Participants will:
- Understand the concept of sensory processing and how this relates to participation in daily activities.
- Appreciate how sensory processing differences can affect the child or young person at home, in school and in other settings.
- Acknowledge the importance of identifying the potential sensory function of a behaviour.
- Gain knowledge about supportive practice, which can address the sensory processing needs of the children and young people with additional and complex learning needs at home, in school and in other settings.
Location
St. Cecilia's Special School
Cregg,
Sligo
Sligo
F91 X283
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Joan McDonald
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
St. Cecilia's Special School , Sligo , Sligo