Autism Toolkit - Department of Education

This joint initiative was managed by the Department of Education, Irish Society for Autism (ISA), and Parents and Professionals Autism NI (PAPA). We produced educational resources on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including a video for parents who have recently had a child diagnosed with ASD and a teacher’s toolkit. 

The video, ‘Autism – An Introduction’ features real-life parents talking about their experience of ASD. It includes information and practical advice as well as valuable insights into life with a child diagnosed with ASD.

The teacher’s toolkit is an interactive CD-ROM that includes a number of real-life audio-visual scenario. It provides teachers with practical strategies for teaching children with ASD by:

• explaining what ASD is;
• describing the main characteristics of ASD children and the difficulties of diagnosis;
• enabling teachers to confidently recognise the signs of ASD;
• informing teachers of the range of ASD specific teaching approaches; and
• equiping teachers to confidently put these ASD teaching approaches into practice.

The Autism Spectrum Disorder - A Teacher's Toolkit CD-Rom was delivered to all schools in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and received very positive feedback.