Autism through a neurodiversity informed lens

Date: 22 October 2025

Time: 6:30pm - 8pm

Online Webinar: Zoom

Blurb

Dive into building strong foundations for understanding neurodiversity and tune into autism and updated developments which introduce neurodiversity-affirming ways of working and supporting autistic children’s engagement within the school environment.

This course considers practical ways for teachers and ANAs/SNAs to make the shift away from traditional deficit-based ways of working and thinking, towards supportive compassionate responsive caregiving practices.

This course will reflect on autistic neurology, developmental considerations, psychological and emotional safety requirements, nervous system regulation needs, communication development and social-emotional development. Practical knowledge will support how you communicate and engage with children.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Gain knowledge of the ‘neurodiversity’ umbrella.
• Learn about autism from research inclusive of autistic lived experiences.
• learn about autistic friendly inclusive environments.
• Tune into autistic differences - strengths and challenges.
• Consider factors affecting regulation including nervous system development.
• Consider conditions necessary for successful participation.
• Apply knowledge through case studies.
• Learn and reflect on the responsive caregiving role.

Bio

Roisin Doherty-Brady has a BE’d Hons Degree in Education (1998) and a Postgraduate degree in SEN (2014). She has worked in mainstream primary, special school and autism specific school settings for over 20 years. Roisin facilitates webinars through Education Centres and is passionate about supporting a community of teachers and SNAs in neurodiversity informed practices throughout Ireland. She continues to update herself in neuro-affirming practices and this is reflected in her practice, and she currently works for the Intensive Interaction Training Team and is an Advanced Practitioner in Attention Autism. Roisin’s autistic children have deepened her understanding of autistic lived experiences. She works to upskill families, teachers, SNAs and peers in both home and school environments, to be able to support autistic children’s wellbeing and quality of life through meaningful interactions and participation. Her value driven practices are inclusive of neurodevelopmental research, embedded in autistic perspectives. Roisin's love of learning about neurodiversity informed practices has led her to begin her advanced training in The Curiosity Programme. She enjoys talking to and reflecting with other informed practitioners.

This webinar is hosted by Carrick-on-Shannon Education Support Centre. The information you provide when registering will be shared with the host centre and the centre through which you booked and can be used and shared by them in accordance with their Terms and Privacy Policy, which is available on their website.