Maureen Ryan M.Ed. Educational Consultant

Maureen Ryan M.Ed. Educational Consultant “It’s Not Alphabet Soup!” Conference Using Blended Methods and Strategies to Individualise Education for Students with Autism

taking place on the 17th May 2016

Maureen Ryan has worked for 10 years as a special education teacher and for the following 24 years as a Principal of Special Education for the Orange-Ulster BOCES. She was instrumental in bringing the TEACCH model and then the VBA model to educate students with ASD to BOCES. She began presenting on the TEACCH strategies and visual teaching in 1997. She has presented with her colleague, Barbara Bloomfield, throughout the United States as well as in Ireland, England, Sweden and South Africa.

Maureen is currently self-employed with her own business providing consultation to local school districts and a pre-school. Her focus continues to be on students with autism but also works with these strategies as best teaching practices for all students. For the past two and a half years, she has assisted the pre-school program set up a VBA program using blended strategies from TEACCH, visual teaching and sensory integration. She is also providing direct teaching to a young adult utilizing a blended method to assist in managing behaviours and develop life skills.

Target Audience:

All professionals and parents who have previous training and experience with individuals with Autism who would benefit from guidance as how to best integrate/blend strategies to meet the needs of individuals. Specific training in the various strategies is not a requirement.

Learning Outcomes:

 Understand the basic concepts of Verbal Behaviour Analysis (VBA) and Teaching, Expanding, Appreciating, Collaborating, Cooperating, and Holistic (TEACCH) as it relates to implementation in the classroom

 Improve understanding of how to integrate visual strategies, communication and sensory activities to create an autism friendly environment

 Develop a better understanding of how to incorporate strategies into educational plans

 Develop an understanding of how to use strategies to manage behaviour, improve social skills and determine the highest level of independence for an individual student  Increase awareness of individualisation rather than a “one size fits all”.

Booking Form

Venue: Stormont Hotel Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3LP

Date: 17th May 2016

Registration: 9:30 am

Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm Cost: Parents: £50 Professionals: £150

Please note that payment must be received in full before the Conference

Name: ______

Full postal Invoice address : ______

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Tel: ______

E-Mail: ______

Special Requirements: e.g. dietary Yes  No 

Please complete and return booking form to Christine Quail, Autism NI, Donard, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 8HB

Confirmations will be sent by email [email protected] only or alternately you can ring Christine on 028 9040 1729 Option 6