Snas will have the opportunity to watch three approx 60 minute webinars. After completing these there is a reflection sheet and an evaluation to complete. A cert of attendance must be printed for each SNA and they sign individually. They have lifetime access to these recordings. Please do not share with any other school. These are strictly for your school only. These can be watched as a group or individually. Just forward the link to all SNAs.
Session 1 - 53 minutes: Building Independence in Everyday School Routines
When a child’s nervous system is settled and organised, it creates the perfect opportunity to gently scaffold independence. This webinar will focus on everyday skills such as toileting, dressing, feeding, organising belongings, and moving between activities.
As an SNA, your ability to recognise when to step in, when to step back, and how to scaffold support thoughtfully plays a crucial role in nurturing independence for your students.
Session 2 - 55 minutes: Play and Positive Connections
This webinar will centre on a genuine appreciation of autistic joy and deep interest. Repetition, lining up, spinning, scripting, sensory exploration and focused interests all serve important functions in supporting regulation, processing experiences, building mastery, and creating predictability.
We will explore how SNA can recognise the value of monotropic attention and use deep interests as a bridge for connection.
Session 3 - 78 minutes: Reset and Refocus. Ideas for Successful Regulation Breaks
This practical webinar equips SNAs with simple, effective strategies to support learners in becoming organised and ready to engage. Participants will explore the three sensory power systems: The vestibular system (movement and balance), the proprioceptive system (deep pressure and “heavy work”), and the tactile system (touch and texture experiences) and understand how each plays a vital role in attention, emotional regulation, and body awareness. SNAs will learn how to recognise when a child may need support to either down-regulate (ground and calm) or up-regulate (energise and alert).
Bio of Presenter: Aideen Rutledge
Aideen has specialised in the area of autism having worked with Middletown Centre for Autism, the HSE and NHS as an Occupational Therapist (OT) over the past 20 years. She is a certified Sensory Attachment Therapist and holds a Masters in Sensory Integration.
Aideen supports children and young people directly, their families and schools. She also provides specialist training to professionals and parents in the area of regulation and Autism.
Aideen was the winner of the 2022 Eva Duggan Award which celebrated excellence in Children's OT practice. She has had two published peer review papers in the Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy in 2019 and 2024.