iPads and learners with autism
What is the most effective way to take advantage of the creative and accessible teaching opportunities the iPad offers?
8 November 2023: 9 am – 12 noon
We share how you can personalise this potential for individual learners, capitalising on their unique interests to increase attention; focus and engagement in the curriculum. We also address the use of iPads to meet the diverse speech, language and communication needs of learners with autism.
But is it a ‘wonder’ tool? What can go wrong? We assess how to minimise the risks that using an iPad in the classroom also brings. What about using apps and iPads as a reward? Which are the most common mistakes to avoid? Finally, we explore the considerations when using iPads in the classroom and suggest possible solutions.
9 am Admission, welcome and a virtual tea/coffee to start the session.
9.05 am Welcome. Warm-up: Switching on the brains!
9.10 am Session 1: iPad good and iPad bad?
This session explores the conundrum of the rewards and risks of using iPads in the classroom.
You will learn:
Are iPads a good fit for autism? What’s the evidence base?
How to use the iPad for social learning
Using the iPad to meet a learner’s sensory needs
Troubleshooting: what to do if it doesn’t work
Observations and strategies for using apps and iPads as a reward
Top ten mistakes to avoid!
9.40 am Break out room activity – ‘Your stories of success or not!’ A forum for sharing iPad ideas and exchanging experiences.
9.50 am Session 2: Apps and Communication
Increasingly iPads are being used to support communication for autistic students. This session will share practical ideas for meeting the speech, language and communication needs of autistic students.
You will learn:
How to create a quick communication aid
Where to look for paid-for communication apps and how to evaluate their offer
How to create meaningful communication opportunities
Taking the ‘voice’ out of the classroom
using iPads as a communication aid/device – what specific management issues do you need to know about
10.25 Chat Task – App Smash! What are your favourite apps, and why?
10.35 Coffee and Task – Case Study
11.00 Session 3: Apps and Special Interests
The session will look at how to use an autistic learner’s unique interests as a tool in curricular activities.
You will learn:
How autistic learners’ special interests influences their behaviour
How to capitalise on a learner’s special interests to increase attention; focus, and enjoyment of an activity
Using your knowledge of their unique interests to re-engage with you and the curriculum.
Using apps matched to a learner’s unique interest as a teaching tool
Apps to develop self-regulation
Using guided access on the iPad
11.45 Session 4: Apps to develop practitioner knowledge
This short session will signpost you to a selection of apps to develop an awareness and deeper understanding of autism. Useful for individual, group or whole school CPD, we’ll cover ideas for using these across your school.
11.55 am Q & A
12 pm Thank you and goodbyes!
This will be appropriate for classroom practitioners from special schools and colleges, mainstream settings with specialist SEN provision and early years settings, who are working with pupils with Autism.
Richard Hirstwood is the founder and lead consultant for Hirstwood Training. He is passionate about enabling educators/practitioners to maximise the impact of delivering sensory learning opportunities, in a sensory room or other learning environments, with the available resources. He has developed innovative ways of delivering critical skills and competencies via face-to-face training, coaching sessions and hands-on work with teachers and teaching assistants, and creating bespoke portfolios of training videos for more than a hundred individual schools and settings. His extensive experience is based on practical knowledge, giving him insight into what works and what doesn’t in multi sensory practice. Regular sessions with children and adults with autism and all additional needs in various multi sensory and classroom settings enable him to maintain this level of excellent practice.
Chris Barson founded Positive About Autism in January 2009. Before 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).
All the resources from this event will be in your account at online.hirstwood.com. You will access these using the email address on the booking form and your password (instructions in the joining information for creating your password.)
Here you will find:
a digital recording of the event
resources shared or signposted during the session
a transcript of the Zoom chat
your certificate of attendance
These will be available for 10 days after the event.
Each place costs £85 plus VAT.
You can pay by credit card for this booking or request an invoice on the booking form.
This live & online event now has a certificate of attendance to download!
This live & online event now has a dedicated Chat Room! Open the day before the event, chat with fellow delegates or tutors or ask questions. Open for ten days after the event.
This is a new course for 2023!
