Recommended Resources

Sunday 9 November 2008

New Dates For 2009

Anyone who missed the popular Autism Day Course this year will be pleased to know that more dates have been added for early 2009. To view please go to:

http://www.peoplefirsteducation.co.uk/PDF/PeopleFirst_coursedates.pdf

If you would like to book on any of these courses please go to:

http://www.peoplefirsteducation.co.uk/contact.html

Here you can fill in an online booking form. Alternatively you can phone or write (details also on this page).

Hope to see you there.

The Autism team.

Friday 17 October 2008

ADHD Training Events

Coming Soon ADHD Training Events
As I'm sure you are aware, as with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, many more cases of ADHD are being diagnosed. It is however also true that many education professionals simply do not have the training or specific knowledge to successfully include pupils with such diagnoses. As a result People First Education are commencing a nationwide program of ADHD training events as of March 2009. These events will take the form of one-day training course and consist of an easily accessible overview of what ADHD is as well as equipping the attendee with a range of inclusion strategies and resources. If anyone is interested in this service please contact us via the website: www.peoplefirsteducation.co.uk

Tuesday 22 July 2008

Overdiagnosing of Autism?

Michael Savage, the contraversial New York radio presenter has found himself at the centre of a row after making comments about Autistic children on his show. Indeed parents have been so angered that a demonstration was held outside the station.

Mr Savage apparently described 99% of children with Autism as "brats" and "idiots" and went on to claim overdiagnosis and stated that drug companies were creating a "national panic" in the USA.

Whilst it is true that Michael Savage's comments are offensive and inappropriate, it is true that numbers of diagnoses have increased, but that just goes to prove that there is a need for modification of teaching strategies. Here at People First Education, we strongly advocate the use of Autism and Asperger Syndrome friendly practice for all learners and firmly believe it to be globally beneficial. Ultimately, from an inclusion perspective clear communication and low arousal environments are essential elements of modern teaching.

May we wish all colleagues who are or about to be on summer break a well earnt rest.

Wednesday 11 June 2008

Extra dates added Autism Day Course Autumn Term A

The following dates have been added to the Autism Day Courses for Autumn Term A 2008.

Wednesday 24th September 2008 at:
Cadderton Park Toby Carvery, Innkeeper's Lodge Oldham, OL1 2QS

Wednesday 15th October 2008 at:
Kestrel Vintage Inn, Innkeeper's Lodge Harrogate East,HG5 8LY

Please contact us for further details.

For current term course dates (Summer Term B) please go to:

http://www.peoplefirsteducation.co.uk/PDF/PeopleFirst_coursedates.pdf

Friday 6 June 2008

Girls, low birth weight and the Autism Whisperer

If you have read the newspapers you will be aware that there has been no shortage of newsworthy stories related to Autism. The research into mapping regions of the brain continues to be hot news, we are now being told by the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention that girls with low birth weight are more likely to have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

However, the topic that interested us was about Jim Carrey. It seems that his partner Jenny McCarthy has dubbed him 'The Autism Whisperer'. Ms McCarthy has an Autistic son and Jim Carrey has discovered that this little boy responds better when he is whispered to, indeed it was reported that this child did not respond
to 'normal' speaking volume. Of course there are many possible reasons why this may be good for this child. However one of the reasons may be that this child is responding because he suffers from hypersensitivity and as a result doesn't cope with loud noises which result in a sensory overload (common in ASDs). It is therefore likely that Jim Carrey has discovered sensory overload in Autistic children and is displaying good Autism practise by altering his own behaviour rather than making expectations of the child.

Those who have been on our Autism training courses will know that we promote the Triad of Imparments along with sensory differences as being amongst the key areas of knowledge necessary to understanding ASDs (see diagram bottom of page). Additionally we believe that sensory differences underpin everything and should be addressed first.

Saturday 31 May 2008

New Dates Added: Autism Day Course

The following dates have now been added to the Autism Day Course

Strategies for effective inclusion of learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A day course for practitioners, designed to enable successful inclusion of learners with Autism and Asperger Syndrome.

09-Sep-08: Oxford
10-Sep-08: Buckinghamshire
11-Sep-08: Cambridge
15-Sep-08: Worcester
16-Sep-08: Coventry Warwickshire
17-Sep-08: Shropshire:
23-Sep-08: Warrington
30-Sep-08: Milton Keynes
01-Oct-08: Northampton
07-Oct-08: Suffolk
08-Oct-08: Norfolk
14-Oct-08: Cumbria

Please contact us for further details.

Good Autism Practice

We were very interested this week to see the results of research at Hofstra University. The findings in this research have shown brain region similarities between people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and ADHD, Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Although this is far from conclusive proof that there is a direct link between these disorders, it is further evidence that there are similarities. At People First Education we have always stated that Good Autism Practice is Good Teaching Practice. On our training courses we recommend that the strategies taught will benefit all learners. Research such as this can only help us to be more confident in our cohesive approach to teaching individuals with special educational needs.

Sunday 25 May 2008

Welcome to the new Autism Update Blog

Welcome to the new People First Education Autism Update Blog. It is hoped that we shall be adding relevant information on a regular basis regarding the world of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

Anybody who has attended the Autism Day Course will know that the major focus of the day is to gain a deeper understand of ASDs. Indeed, this forms the basis of the whole of our ethos. An unfortunate example of the damage a lack of understanding of ASDs can cause has been reported in the international news this week. In this instance a situation where a young man with Autism has been excluded from his place of worship due to his behavioural differences. It would be very easy to apportion blame in these circumstances, however this is not an issue of blame, it is an issue of understanding.

At People First Education we believe that a knowledge of ASDs will benefit both the learner and those working with them.