World Autism Awareness Day

In support of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd, Assistant Principal - Learner Wellbeing & Engagement, Alison Warner, spent some time coaching staff on neurodiversity, with a focus on visual schedules and supports.

Visual schedules and supports help students by providing clarity on what to expect in their day, easing anxiety and supporting with transitioning smoothly between activities or subjects. They ease cognitive workload and can help teachers to visually organise their day and communicate this non-verbally.

Alison also spoke about promoting inclusion, particularly with neurodiverse students. Neurodiversity is a popular term used to describe differences in the way people's brains work. The idea is that there's no “correct” way for the brain to work. Instead, there is a wide range of ways that people perceive and respond to the world, and these differences are to be embraced and encouraged. Appreciating and embracing differences is something that begins with each one of us.