5-day TEACCH (Killarney, March 2010)

Twenty-five teachers attended a 5-day TEACCH Course held on March 1st-5th in Killarney as part of SESS’s Continuing Professional Development Programme for teachers working with pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The programme has a child-centered focus that employs a combined-skills approach.

Approximately 1,300 teachers participate in the ASD programme annually and events are provided at both local and regional level. Participation also provides teachers with an opportunity to pursue a post-graduate qualification in ASD through St. Angela’s College, Sligo and the National University of Ireland, Galway.

TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped CHildren) is just one course from the programme and its fundamental concept is based on the use of a highly structured teaching approach that incorporates the pupil’s need for structure and predictability in common everyday tasks. The 5-day TEACCH courses are delivered by SESS in collaboration with Division TEACCH, University of North Carolina (UNC), USA.

Image from TEACCH

(Teachers observing Dr. Steve Love of Division TEACCH, University of North Carolina (UNC), using ‘scripting’ with a pupil at TEACCH training)

In addition to Division TEACCH personnel, Siobhán Kingston (SESS), seconded from St. Gabriel’s Special School, Cork, works as a TEACCH Trainer and Lead Teacher on the 5-day training courses and D’arne O’Shiel (SESS), currently teaching in St. Anne’s Special School, Roscrea, works as a TEACCH Trainer.

SESS provides a range of supports for the learning and teaching of students with ASDs, including SESS supported / funded courses such as TEACCH.

Click here for a summary of SESS ASD-related supports. [1]

Image from TEACCH