AUTISM INCLUSION TEACHER

On Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 6, I took part in a two-day workshop at the Port Noarlunga Surf Life Saving Club, hosted by Positive Partnerships. Over the course of the workshop, a variety of topics were covered, including language and autism, executive functioning, social skills and communication, sensory processing, wellbeing and behaviour, among others.

The facilitators shared valuable insights from their personal experiences, enhancing my understanding and sparking ideas on how we can adjust educational practices to foster a more genuine sense of inclusion. It was also an amazing opportunity to collaborate with AITS across various school sites, allowing me to further develop my knowledge and expertise to better support both our autistic and non-autistic students.

One topic that particularly piqued my interest was how the language surrounding autism has evolved in recent years. The way people talk about autism can vary, and individuals often have their own preferred terms for describing both autism and themselves. Some prefer using "autistic person" (identity-first language), while others prefer "person with autism" (person-first language), and some are comfortable with either. Additionally, some autistic individuals identify as having a disability, while others may not. This shift highlights the importance of respecting each person's preference when discussing autism.

I have attached a link to a video that provides more information on this important topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKjjBLEbkGk

It was such a great opportunity and I am very excited to bring the new research, information, tools and strategies back to Hackham East PS.

If you’re interested in learning more or have something you’d like to share—whether it be a podcast, article, strategy, or website—I encourage you to email me at claire.mcgarvey587@schools.sa.edu.au

Claire McGarvey

Autism Inclusion Teacher

Reference links https://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/all-about-autism