Ecological Intervention for Autistic Students 5 Part series with Dr. Susan Crawford

This workshop has been postponed from February to September 2023

“Ecological Intervention for Autistic Students”

4 Webinars and 1 Face to Face Session (in region 6 (Northwest) to be decided)

For Primary and Post-Primary Teachers, SNAs and Coaches

Webinar 1: An introduction to ecological intervention for autistic students  - Wednesday 27th September 2023

This webinar will explore: 

• The essence and aims of ecological intervention,
• Benefits,
• Where it should take place, 
• Who can deliver it, 
• When it can begin, 
• How often is intervention needed and 
• Why choose it?

Webinar 2: Performing and learning Motor Skills with autistic students  - Wednesday 4th October 2023

This webinar will explore: 

• How we perform motor skills, 
• The information Processing approach, 
• Dynamical Systems approach, 
• The Learning Process, 
• What is learning? 
• What changes when autistic students learn? 
• How to measure learning, 
• What are the phases of learning?

Webinar 3: Collecting Information and Programme Planning for Autistic Students - Wednesday 11th October 2023

This webinar explores:

• The role of the Coach Assessing the student, 
• From assessment to intervention planning, 
• Assessing the environmental context, 
• Planning for positive interaction, and 
• Collating information for planning the programme. 

Webinar 4: Implementing an ecological intervention movement programme with autistic children - Wednesday 18th October 2023

This webinar considers: 

• Ecological intervention in action, 
• Setting the scene, 
• Working in a meaningful context, 
• Learning specific skills through task analysis, task adaptation and expert scaffolding,
• Facilitating the learning process through instructions, 
• Practice and feedback, 
• Motor learning in the broader context and monitoring and evaluation. 

Follow on in person Workshop. This workshop will include; - Wednesday 25th October 2023

Please note this workshop will take place in a centre in region 6 (Northwest) to be decided closer to the time. 

• Participant constructed schedule/agenda
• Introductory Presentation
• Active warm up
• Proprioceptive Stretches
• Group planning of specific case study based sessions
• Group feedback
• Summary
• Evaluation
• Take home messages
• Follow on CPD workshops exploration.

Bio - Facilitator: Dr Susan Crawford PhD, Autism Spectrum Disorder Consultant, Fulbright Scholar, Masters in Teaching & Learning, BScSport & Exercise Science, Registered Midwife and Registered General Nurse.

Some feedback from our last webinar series with Dr. Susan Crawford:

• Dr. Crawford made the webinar very interesting and the presentation was easy to follow. She is an excellent communicator and I really enjoyed learning about autism.
• Great insight into FMS, I’m involved in a lot of soccer coaching and saw a huge crossover in strategies and mindset to help improve skill sets
• It was a very enjoyable, interesting and informative course delivered by a very competent lady who knows her subject very well.
• Very interesting and engaging lectures . Excellent inspiring presenter.
• Dr. Crawford made the webinar very interesting and the presentation was easy to follow. She is an excellent communicator and I really enjoyed learning about autism.

This is a timely opportunity to address supporting our students/adults returning to school environments/care settings while also promoting their holistic health, learning and well-being in the process. Equally it provides our teachers and SNAs with the knowledge, skills and resources to engage meaningfully and without stress with their students/service users.

Book online at www.donegaledcentre.ie  and a webinar link will be emailed to you on the morning of the webinar. Please check your SPAM folder if you do not receive the link in your inbox.

Please note that all courses will require viable numbers to proceed. If you have any queries regarding your online booking, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

This webinar is hosted by Mayo Education Centre. The information you provide when registering will be shared with the host centre and the centre through which you booked and can be used and shared by them in accordance with their Terms and Privacy Policy, which is available on their website.