For Professionals

Supporting Autistic Learners: Autistic Children and Young People with High Care and Education Needs

About this course

Supporting Autistic Learners: Autistic Children and Young People with High Care and Education Needs This session supports education professionals to deepen their understanding of how autistic children and young people with high care and education needs experience, interpret, and engage with their environments. Autism is a naturally occurring form of neurodiversity. Differences in sensory processing, communication, movement, cognition, and emotional regulation are integral aspects of autistic neurology, not problems to be remedied. In Special School settings, where students often rely on adults for access, advocacy, and co-regulation, the responsibility lies with professionals to adapt environments, expectations, and teaching approaches to align with each learner's neurology. When this alignment is achieved, learners are more likely to feel safe, regulated, and able to engage meaningfully. A particular focus of this session is the well documented visual strengths many autistic learners demonstrate. Thoughtfully designed visual supports can reduce cognitive load, increase predictability, and support autonomy across learning contexts. Professionals will explore: Why visual approaches often align naturally with autistic processing styles. How visuals can support learning, communication, and regulation rather than compliance or task completion alone. The importance of consistency across staff teams and environments in promoting felt safety. A range of flexible visual strategies that respect each learner's strengths, interests, access needs, and identity.

Location

Marino Community School, Church Road, Bray A98 TW99 , Bray , Wicklow , A98 TW99

About the trainer

Dee Hogan

Dee Hogan

Dee Hogan is an Autism Trainer/Advisor in Middletown Centre for Autism.

Dee has extensive experience teaching and supporting autistic children and young people. Her experiences include Pre-school, Early Intervention Autism Classes, Primary Autism Classes, Mainstream Primary and Special Schools.

She has written, lectured and assessed modules on the Special Needs Assistant and Level Four Autism qualifications, as professional development for parents and professionals. Dee has also worked as a part time Lecturer with University College Cork designing and delivering the Diploma in Autism Studies as well as providing training for teachers, third level students, parents and professionals.

Dee’s training specialisms are Reframing Behaviour, Early Intervention, Classroom Strategies, and Transitions. Dee holds a MEd in Special Education Autism from the University of Birmingham.