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Autism awareness day for providers hailed a success
An awareness raising day on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) held last week for Merseyside work based learning providers has proved highly effective.
The all day session, held at the premises of Training Plus merseyside in Liverpool, was delivered by practitioners Dawn Makinson and Sharon Williams from Autism Initiatives UK. It outlined practices for supporting learners with autism spectrum disorders into employment, including sessions on:
- Job descriptions for young people with ASD
- Informing employers about learners with ASD
- Setting up ASD friendly work environments
- Supporting the development of work skills
Staff from learning providers who attended found the sessions very useful. Brian Quinn, director of Training Plus merseyside comments:
“The training has proven hugely inspirational to our teaching staff. As a result of the session, I am now hoping to secure funding and a key school partner to develop work-based opportunities at Training Plus merseyside for ASD learners.”
The event was one of several activities developed under the Invest to Change project which GMLPF is involved with along with several partners. The overall project aims to increase opportunities for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities to enter work-based learning and employment.
As a follow on from last week’s awareness session, Invest to Change partners are now considering the development of a toolkit for supporting learners with ASD.
For further information, please contact Hilary Venney or Brian Quinn.
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