Looking through a Different Lens: Mary McKenna on Autism Education

from Teachers Themselves · host Dublin West Education Centre

Send a textAre you interested in Autism Education and seeking guidance on how to approach the subject with sensitivity, respect, and accurate terminology? Allow us to introduce you to Mary McKenna, a seasoned primary teacher and CPD facilitator, who pioneered the first Autism early intervention class in Ireland. In this episode of ‘Teachers Themselves’, Mary provides a thoughtful examination of the labels often used to describe neurodivergent individuals and classrooms, challenging us to move beyond phrases like "disorder" and "unit". Mary's journey from primary school teacher to CPD facilitator is a fascinating one, instigated by an invitation to be part of a significant research study. Join us as we explore the importance of shared understanding in education and the power of peer support.Whether you're about to start teaching in an autism support class or are a seasoned educator looking for fresh insights, this conversation has something for you. And as we wrap things up, Mary reminds us of an essential aspect often overlooked: the necessity of self-care for teachers. Join us and learn how to sustain your role without losing yourself in the process.In this episode, Mary also provides her top 3 CPD tips for the academic year ahead. You can listen to her recommendations in a bite-size, separate bonus episode. Mary’s CPD recommendations for the year ahead are; to attend her CPD with DWEC, to consider the CPD available through the NCSE and for CPD for your own Wellbeing. You can book her CPD recommendations here:Mary McKenna’s CPD with DWEC = An Introduction to Teaching Autistic Children (Face-to-Face course starting on September 27th)NCSE = https://ncse.ie/tpl Wellbeing = Restorative Practices Skills for Promoting Wellbeing in Classrooms and Schools The Resilient Teacher: Approaches from Positive Psychology A Whole-School Approach to Well-Being and SSEMood Matters. Wellbeing webinar for SNAs Don’t forget to like and subscribe, leave us a review and share it with colleagues and friends! Your feedback informs the show. You can follow us across our social media channels – Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook If you have any thoughts on our episodes, or suggestions for future topics, email Zita at [email protected] Or take a minute to give us your feedback: Listener Feedback Oh – and don’t forget to book that CPD – dwec.ie Teachers Themselves is a DWEC original, produced and created by Dublin West Education Centre produced by Zita Robinson.

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This episode is 37 minutes long.

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This episode was published on September 25, 2023.

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