Ask the Experts Q&A

The Ask the Experts Q&A sessions in the program will give you a chance to ask questions and explore ideas with the experts on each panel. Information on the topics covered by the Interactive Panels, are outlined below.

1. Capabilities Panel: “Incorporating autistic interests in education settings”

Discussion area: Increasingly research and practice are suggesting that educators understand and incorporate a student’s interests into their education. However, there are many questions and concerns about this – practically how might this be done in different settings, can you still fulfil curriculum guidelines etc.

2. Innovation Panel: “The successful use of everyday technology to facilitate learning in the classroom”

Discussion area: This is another topic where there increased expectations of incorporating technology into school life and many questions and concerns – this might be about distractions from technology, privacy and safety / bullying, difficulty understanding the breadth of technology available, a preference for more traditional methods etc.

3. Approaches to learning: “Making adjustments: the environment, assessments and teaching methodology”

Discussion area: Including students with different abilities, needs and learning preferences means that teachers have to be able to make a range of adjustments to include all students in the school, classroom and teaching. This might include environmental adaptations (Including sensory), adaptations to assessment process and specifically to how information is presented & taught.

4. Working Together: “Transdisciplinary teams in early childhood”

Discussion area: The emergence of the NDIS individual funding has seen an increase in the number of early childhood therapies being delivered in locations outside of a therapy room. As a result early childhood education services are increasingly being asked to integrate therapy sessions and incorporate therapist designed interventions within their educational context. How can this be successfully achieved to ensure the inclusion and support of young children on the spectrum? What strategies need to be in place to ensure that educators, families and therapists are on the same page and working towards the same goal?