Over 250 people participated in the one day event on the theme of ‘Autistic Identity Moving Through the Teenage Years’, which was hosted by Northern Regional College in partnership with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT).
The conference programme included a series of workshops giving the presenters a platform to share their experiences and offer advice on how to support young people to navigate key transitional stages, like going from primary to secondary school, leaving school and getting a job.
Keynote speaker was Dean Beadle a high profile journalist, speaker and writer who just happens to be on the autism spectrum. Giving his take on living with autism, he shared his personal journey with great humour and insight and said having a positive outlook helps challenge negative public perceptions.
He urged participants to consider the damaging impact their words could have on someone on the spectrum: “Always think about the impact that of what you say to write will have.
“Autistic people don’t need to adapt to the world. The world needs to adapt to them,” he concluded.
The packed conference programme also included a session on ‘Staying Safe’ which featured a hard-hitting antibullying video. The video, written and produced by media students at the College, highlighted why seeking help for bullying is the right thing to do.
Event organiser, Stephen McCartney, Head of Student Services at Northern Regional College said the conference had been a great success.
“The contributors were inspirational and the feedback from all the sessions was excellent. It was a very uplifting event and we hope that it will contribute to a greater understanding of and empathy for children and young people on the autism spectrum.
“The success of the conference is a great example of what can be achieved when statutory and voluntary organisations work together in real partnership.”
Northern Regional College has introduced a new City and Guilds Level 3 course, Specialist Support for Teaching And Learning With Autism. The one year full time course will be offered at the College’s Newtownabbey campus from September 2021 and will be suitable for anyone wishing to work as a classroom assistant in nursery, primary, secondary or special needs schools. An online Level 2 course, ‘Understanding Autism’, (part-time) aims to develop learners’ understanding of autism and the principles of supporting individuals with autism. Go to www.nrc.ac.uk for information on all full time and part time courses at the College.