Dates:

Session 1 – Monday 24th February 2025

Session 2 – Monday 17th March 2025

Session 3 – Monday 7th April 2025

Session 4 – Monday 5 May 2025

Time:

4.30pm – 6.00pm

Venue:

The Autism Training Hub, Giant Steps, Gladesville, Sydney

Cost:

$240

Course Description

This four-part course explores the unique learning styles and potential challenges faced by Autistic children within the school environment.

Each session lays the groundwork for subsequent topics with an expectation that participants attend all 4 sessions. Participants will gain comprehensive insights into selecting and applying strategies and practical supports in their schools.

The course is geared towards teachers, support staff and school leaders working with autistic students who may encounter difficulties in engagement and learning during their school years.

Please see below an outline of the four different sessions that make up this course, tailored specifically for educational institutions.

Session 1 – Understanding Autism and Cognitive Differences

Monday 17th February 2025

This session will support teachers and educators to further understand Autism beyond a diagnostic label. It will explore differences in the way Autistic children engage with the world and how this could be considered in the context of the classroom. Suggestions for supports and strategies will be offered.

• Broaden your understanding of Autism to include the different strengths and preferences Autistic children have in thinking, socialising and processing information from the world around them​.
• Explore some of the challenges that Autistic children may experience in the classroom.
• Consider how practical supports and strategies might be implemented to enhance a child’s independence and engagement.

Session 2 – Unpacking the Impact of Anxiety on Behaviour and Engagement

Monday 10th March 2025

Heightened anxiety is known to increase ‘challenging behaviour’ and have a negative impact on a student’s participation and engagement in the classroom. Explore how you might best support the wellbeing of autistic students learning in your school and classroom by developing your understanding of anxiety and how it may manifest for neurodiverse learners.

• Consider how neurodevelopmental differences may contribute to a heightened experience of anxiety and stress in autism.
• Understand how anxiety may manifest in the context of the classroom for your Autistic students.
• Explore practical strategies that can be implemented in the classroom to proactively support student well-being.

Session 3 – Sensory Processing Differences

Monday 31st March 2025

The world can often feel like an overwhelming place for the Autistic children we support. This session will explore the sensory processing differences that exist for Autistic children and how this may present for every individual.

Practical suggestions for supporting the sensory needs of Autistic children, including considerations related to the environment and teaching and learning experiences, will be shared.

• Develop an understanding of sensory processing​.
• Acknowledge the impact of sensory processing throughout the day​.
• Consider how sensory processing styles may present within the school setting​.
• Learn about key strategies for supporting sensory processing​.

Session 4 – Communication Supports

Monday 5th May 2025

Understanding the communication profile of each individual child is fundamental to providing supports and strategies that foster engagement, participation and autonomy in the school environment. Deepen your comprehension about how communication supports not only enhance understanding but also enable students to participate and contribute meaningfully as a member of their school community, regardless of whether the individual uses speech or not as their preferred communication mode.

• Discover why communication supports are not only useful, but often essential for both speaking and non-speaking autistic students.
• Understand the communication preferences of Autistic students broadly, and apply your understanding to further discover the communication preferences and support needs of an autistic learner in your class.
• Explore a range of communication supports for different purposes, including the use of concrete supports for supporting understanding and expression.

For enquiries specific to this course please contact autismhub@giantsteps.net.au

The Autism Hub professional learning courses aim to increase participants knowledge and confidence to best support the learning of autistic children and adults. Proudly supported by Future Generation Australia.