Why come
This two-day course equips attendees with the skills to set up and run the 4 Stage Attention Autism programme. The training focuses on the practical aspects of intervention, working in a team and offering an irresistible invitation to learn.
This workshop is limited to 25 participants to ensure that the practical aspects of the workshop can be run in small groups making coaching and feedback effective. Be sure to sign-up early!
Registration
Individuals:
Early Bird Rate: 360 Euros (register by 31 July, 2018)
Standard Rate: 390 Euros (register by 21 September, 2018)
Groups (min. 3 registrations):
Early-bird rate: 330 Euros (register by 31 July, 2018) Group
Standard rate: 360 Euros (register by 21 September, 2018)
Fee includes coffee/refreshments and lunch for two days.
Workshop details
Who is it for
Educators of children from 3 – 6 years old, administrators, grade level teams, special needs assistants, speech and language therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, pre-school intervention staff, and outreach support staff working with autism.
Workshop goals
The Attention Autism programme targets the teaching of attention, communication and social interaction skills. Training is run applying the principles of the attention autism programme throughout each day. There are demonstrations of the techniques in action, films of the work with children, practical hands-on experience for participants and ideas for activities. The intention is to share the practical skills needed for participants to feel confident in setting up and running the intervention immediately.
Learning outcomes
An understanding of how to:
engage children with autism
teach children with autism to focus, sustain and shift their attention
set up and run the intervention with groups of children
nurture the supporting team working with you
modify and adapt levels of stimulation/distraction in a group setting
use shared good times with the group and staff team working together in highly engaging activities to build relationships and trust
teach, encourage and support communication
foster group learning skills
to embed early social interaction skills into group work
develop a framework that encourages breadth and depth in learning for those who find linear progression challenging
provide activities with a high density of learning opportunities
Schedule
8:00 – 8:30 Light breakfast (arrival/registration)
8:30 – 10:30 Session
10:30 – 11:00 Morning break
11:00 – 12:30 Session
12:30 – 13:15 Lunch
13:15 – 14:30 Session
14:30 – 15:00 Afternoon break
15:00 – 16:00 Session
Attention Autism Day 1 Workshop
Day 1 explores the impact of autism spectrum disorders on the development of attention skills and the impact this has on a child’s ability to learn both 1:1 and in a group. We identify ways the learning strengths of children can be exploited and how fragile new skills can be developed. The workshop sets out the first two stages of the 4 stage Attention Autism programme; Stage 1 Focusing Attention, Stage 2 Sustaining attention. The workshop provides practical hands-on opportunities for the attendees to try out activities at each stage and discuss the application of the programme within their setting or service.
Day 1 content:
The principles of the Attention Autism Programme
Converting theory into practice
Attention development and the impact on ASD and learning
Introduction to the Attention Autism Stages
Stage 1 Attention autism Programme
Demonstration
Film
Practical
Feedback
Stage 2 Attention Autism Programme
Demonstration
Film
Practical
Feedback
Review and questions
Attention Autism Day 2 Workshop
Day 2 explores the ways in which communication development can be targeted and nurtured within sessions ensuring the needs of the children can be sensitively met whether preverbal, non-verbal able to speak. The focus is on building functional social communication, understanding and spontaneous communication. The intervention looks at the power of shared good times for building engaged learning and trusting relationships where interaction, problem communication and learning can flourish. The workshop provides an opportunity to solve any issues/questions.
The workshop then introduces Stage 3 Shifting Attention and Stage 4 focusing, sustaining and shifting attention including a transition to independent working. Methods for planning and recording sessions, and linking the intervention to the curriculum and personalised planning for a child are incorporated into the day. Ideas and activities are shared and the attendees are then ready to set up and run the full programme!
Day 2 content
What happens to communication in ASD and the impact this has on the child’s learning and experience
Converting theory into practice
Practical ways of building communication for each child, both non-verbal and verbal, into the programme
Introduction to the Attention Autism Stages 3 and 4
Stage 3 Attention autism Programme
Demonstration
Film
Practical
Feedback
Stage 4 Attention Autism Programme
Demonstration
Film
Practical
Feedback
Review and questions
Featured speaker
Gina Davies
Special Educational Needs Specialist
Gina has worked in the field of Special Educational Needs as a speech and language therapist for over 20 years in both clinic and education and family settings. She set up and ran an early intervention centre – a specialist nursery for children with autism where speech and language therapy and teaching were integrated into an intensive specialist early intervention curriculum. For the last 10 years she has been taking the work developed within the specialist nursery setting to a wider age range and variety of educational placements – both specialist and mainstream.
Gina is passionate about delivering joyful and motivating speech and language therapy that has at its heart a real understanding of communication, the impact of autism on learning and the need to involve the children in dynamic and engaging activities. She is an experienced trainer and lecturer and currently works as a freelance Speech and Language Therapist and Autism specialist.