Autism Conference Series: Achieving Meaningful Inclusion

Dr Stephen Shore is an internationally renowned educator, consultant, and author on lifespan issues in the area of education, relationships, employment, and self-advocacy. Currently the Professor of Special Education at Adelphi University in America, he is known for his groundbreaking work in the autism field. Stephen is also now a powerful autistic advocate for the wider community.

“If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism”

- Stephen Shore 

WHO SHOULD ATTENDEducators, clinicians, professionals, parents, family members, individuals and anyone who supports a person on the spectrum will benefit from attending this conference. Participants will leave the conference with practical strategies at hand to support individuals in making fulfilling and productive lives the rule rather than the exception.

PRESENTATION OVERVIEWStephen shares his belief that a student’s strengths and interests are integral to the school experience. He challenges educators to find creative ways to recognise and incorporate these passions.

Three A’s of Autism: Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation as a pathway to fulfilling and productive livesAn autobiographical structure, combining experiences of others on the autism spectrum, in making fulfilling and productive lives for individuals with autism the rule rather than the exception, will be used to charge participants to reframe their thinking away from disorder and deficit towards seeking abilities based on individual strengths.

Special Ways and Techniques (SWAT) for achieving meaningful inclusionThrough the development and use of educational accommodations as extensions of good teaching practice, participants will learn easy to implement, practical solutions for including individuals with autism.

Senses and Sensibilities: An inside view on recognising and supporting individuals with sensory issuesThe variation in perception of sensory stimuli for many with autism often causes great discomfort and the information received may not even be usable. The aim of this presentation is to enable individuals, and those close to them, to avoid and minimise the effect of sensory overload through easy to implement solutions.

Self-advocacy and disclosure for people on the autism spectrumBeginning with a definition of self-advocacy and a process for considering disclosure, participants will learn the importance of gaining self-awareness, communication skills, and procedures to effectively educate people with autism on obtaining accommodations and greater mutual understanding. Material from this workshop can be used to enable people with autism to reach their potential in employment, education, relationships, interdependent living, and in the community.