Autism: why so sensory? A twilight!
Understanding sensory differences in autism: what’s really going on?
with Chris Barson!
29 April: 4 pm – 5 pm
Why do some autistic learners spin, walk on tiptoe, cover their ears, or touch everything in sight? These behaviours often have a sensory purpose—and understanding them is key to supporting engagement, regulation, and wellbeing.
This twilight session explores the sensory world of autistic learners and how it impacts behaviour, focus, and communication. We’ll look at the ‘why’ behind sensory actions and share tools to help you better understand and support learners in your classroom or setting.
This twilight will cover:
The key sensory differences in autism
Hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness)
Hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness)
Sensory seeking vs sensory avoiding
How sensory behaviours may affect learning, regulation and communication
You’ll leave with:
A clearer understanding of why autistic learners behave in sensory-driven ways
Simple tools to help profile and observe sensory differences
Practical strategies to make your environment more supportive
Ideas to reduce overwhelm and promote calm, alert, and ready-to-learn states
Each twilight has a specific focus and will include the following:
simple and practical ideas that are easy to replicate and work
relevant resources, books, equipment and apps
how to embed activities effectively within your classroom practice
ideas to develop foundation skills or to build upon existing skills
inclusive activities for a range of learners, including those with SLD/complex needs/neurodiverse learners/autism
activities for groups or individual learners
an opportunity to ask questions of presenters/fellow attendees
You can join us live & online or watch the recording for a week after the event.
This course will be appropriate for classroom practitioners from special schools and colleges, mainstream settings with specialist SEN provision and early years settings, and working with pupils with severe/complex learning needs and autism, or both.
Chris Barson founded Positive About Autism in January 2009. Prior to that he was External Training Manager for the National Autistic Society. Chris has a long involvement with disability and autism and first joined the National Autistic Society (NAS) in 1996 as a Project Officer in Wales on a Children in Need project reviewing short term care provision.
After working with the NAS Regional Development Team promoting service development throughout the UK, Chris went to work at the Royal College of General Practitioners, in 2000, where he managed Professional Development and Quality programmes. Chris rejoined NAS in 2004. Chris has contributed to the design and delivery of courses provided by Canterbury Christ Church University, and the University of Cumbria.
Chris is a contributing author to ‘The Autism Spectrum in the 21st Century:Exploring Psychology, Biology and Practice’ Jessica Kingsley Press 2010 (Highly Commended 2011 BMA Medical Book Awards).
The cost is £30 plus VAT per delegate. You can select multiple places on the booking form.
You can choose to pay by credit card for this booking. You can also request an invoice by confirming your booking by entering a Purchase Order Number on the booking form.
