DESCRIPTION
This self-paced online masterclass course is designed to provide parents the knowledge and skills required to support the educational and social needs of their children with Dysgraphia in order to achieve their full potential.
Empowering Parents to realise the full potential of children and young people with Dysgraphia consists of one module. The module is organised by Units and Topics. Each topic has a specific aim and learning targets and concludes with further reading or resources which the learner may find helpful. This results to a broad and in-depth knowledge & understanding of a series of important aspects and challenges faced by children and young people with Dysgraphia.
More specifically, the course aims to increase knowledge and understanding of the signs and symptoms of Dysgraphia as opposed to other Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs). There are dedicated topics dealing with Early Identification, Screening & Diagnosis as well as the ever-important aspect of co-occurring conditions.
Moreover, this masterclass course places emphasis on the social, emotional and behavioural impact of Dysgraphia. To this extent, there are dedicated topics dealing with the emotional impact of Dysgraphia as well as on various behavioural interventions and specialised support for pupils with Dysgraphia.
Finally, the course includes a dedicated unit on educational strategies and more specifically on the methods of efficient & effective collaboration between school and home, when it comes to children and young people with Dysgraphia. Important aspects with respect to the ever-important aspect of Inclusive Education are being analysed and assessed.
Empowering Parents to realise the full potential of children and young people with Dysgraphia is an indispensable tool for parents to acquire the necessary in-depth knowledge to support the educational and social needs of children and young people with Dysgraphia.
All presentations in this course are both visual and audio. The course is being developed by highly experienced tutors with vast expertise in the area of Special Educational Needs (SEN).
This course is part of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) online academy of ShipCon.
MAIN AIMS
- Recognize the early signs and symptoms of Dysgraphia and co-occurring conditions
- Respond to the impact of Dysgraphia on a child’s overall functioning
- Understand the importance of a formal diagnosis
- Develop parents’ knowledge and understanding the definition and diagnosis of Dysgraphia
- Respond effectively and proactively to the educational needs – at individual level – as informed by diagnosis, IQ tests and other assessments
- Assessment of the educational strategies to support children and young people with Dysgraphia and the collaboration between school & home
- Understanding the social and emotional difficulties of children and young people with Dysgraphia
- Implement strategies to help children and young people develop emotional resilience, social understanding and friendship skills which is essential for their wellbeing and academic achievement
WHY this course?
Dysgraphia is one of a family of Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)
The word dysgraphia comes from the Greek words dys meaning “impaired” and γραφία graphía meaning “writing by hand”.
Dysgraphia is a deficiency in the ability to write, primarily handwriting, but also coherence. It often overlaps with other learning disabilities such as speech impairment, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
Research to date has shown orthographic coding in working memory is related to handwriting and is often impaired in dysgraphia. Orthographic coding refers to the ability to store written words in working memory while the letters in the word are analyzed or the ability to create permanent memory of written words linked to their pronunciation and meaning.
Children with Dysgraphia do not have primary developmental motor disorder, another cause of poor handwriting, but may have difficulty planning sequential finger movements such as the touching of the thumb to successive fingers on the same hand without visual feedback. Children with Dysgraphia may have difficulty with both orthographic coding and planning sequential finger movements.
Empowering Parents to realise the full potential of children and young people with Dysgraphia aims to provide parents the knowledge and skills required to support the educational and social needs of children with Dysgraphia in order to achieve their full potential.
WHO TO ATTEND?
- Parents
- Guardians
METHODOLOGY OF THE COURSE – ADDED VALUE
Empowering Parents to realise the full potential of children and young people with Dysgraphia is an online self-paced (asynchronous) course. All presentations are both visual and audio.
It consists of xxx hours of video. Highly experienced tutor goes through the whole course, providing ample explanation – in an easy-to-follow manner – to all the areas & concepts covered by the course. Moreover, the tutor will provide a significant amount of useful background information and explanations throughout the course and in a way which is easy to follow and understand.
The module consists of various learning Units. Each Unit has its own distinct objective (Unit Learning Objective). Finally, each Unit has its own topics, each one with a specific objective (Topic Learning Objective).
Therefore, the Module has its own distinct aim/outcome, which is being served by distinct Units and Topics.
In this way, the attendee can easily follow the tutor as he/she goes through the whole material of the course.
The attendees of the course will be hugely benefited from the fact that they can have a 3-month online support by the responsible tutor of the course. This is very important to all those with busy working or personal schedule who need to go through the material at their own pace.
The methodology of the course is based on a combination of three important elements:
- Provision of knowledge required
- Use of training tools, such as case studies, videos, games, animations & exercises (practice – hands on experience)
- Feedback/reflection (review)
CERTIFICATIONS AWARDED
- Certificate of attendance/competence (skills & competences acquired) by ShipCon with CPD units
COURSE CONTENT
Module I:
Unit I: The signs, symptoms and diagnosis of Dysgraphia
Topic I: What is Dysgraphia?
Topic II: Facts about Dysgraphia, the causes and risk factors
Topic III: Early identification, screening and diagnosis
Topic IV: Co-occurring conditions
Unit II: Education and Inclusive practice
Topic I: Why an understanding of SEN and Dysgraphia is important for teachers.
Topic II: The main educational difficulties encountered by students with Dysgraphia
Topic III: Specific strategies and interventions
Unit III: The social, emotional and behavioural impact of Dysgraphia
Topic I: The emotional and social impact of Dysgraphia
Topic II: Behavioural support and interventions
Topic III: Preparing for a positive future
TRAINER
Angela Winstanley is a highly experienced Trainer/Consultant in Operations Management and Care Services with particular specialism in Autism.
Qualified in Social Work and a degree level qualified Operations Manager, with a background predominantly in care services. For a period of 24 years Angela managed teams and Operations, including all aspects of business development, Strategic Planning and implementation, and Operational Management, at Senior level.
Angela has worked with UK Investors in People as an Assessor, and trained as a Health and Safety/Risk Manager, – she is highly experienced in Quality Audit including Care Quality Commission (CQC) UK, for whom she was Registered as a Service Manager. During her long career Angela has worked within UK Social Services, Health Service, Education and the Voluntary Sector – she has also been seconded to the UK the Prison Service.
In her work for a UK National Charity Angela was trained in ‘Facing the Media’ and undertook numerous TV and Radio interviews, also being published in journals, and National Press.
Since relocating full time to Cyprus in 2012 Angela has delivered both Management and Autism training as a freelance trainer, in UK. Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates. Angela is currently involved in the development of specific Training Within a 3 year ERASMUS project and will be delivering training in Cyprus, Croatia and FYR Macedonia.
Experience:
- ShipCon Head Trainer, 2016 – Present
Responsible for developing and delivering a range of Education based training across Europe. Involvement in Project development.
- Freelance Consultant / Trainer – ACCREDO Support Services (Mental Health / Learning disability / Autism). United Kingdom – 2011 – 2016
- Freelance Trainer – Focus – Abu Dhabi – UAE – Delivering Management training to Abu Dhabi Police force. – 2012 – 2016
- Freelance Consultant / Trainer – ASSP (Autism Assessment Support Practise) Centre Limassol, Cyprus
Responsible for Assessments, responsive programme setting, supporting key staff in interventions, training. – 2011 – 2017
- Area Manager, National Autistic Society, UK. 2003 – April 2011
- Responsible for Operational and Strategic Management of Autism Specific Services across the midlands / East Midlands area
- Locality Manager – National Autistic Society UK. 1998 –2003
Responsible for Management of Adult Autism services across 4 UK countries, including
Residential Homes, Outreach and Supported Living Services, University Support Services,
Day Services
- Registered Manager – National Autistic Society UK. March 1996 –1998
Responsible for start – up and Management of first Residential and Day Services for Adults with Autism, Northamptonshire. Registered as Manager with UK Care Quality Commission.
Supported development of NAS Hayes Special Hospital, Bristol UK
- Team Leader – Northamptonshire Social Services. UK. 1988 – 1996
Responsible for Management of Service for Young adults with disabilities, Co- ordination of Social Work, Nursing and Education Teams and project lead on relocation from Hospital campus to community services.
Change Management in Northamptonshire Day Services. – as part of a specifically recruited management team to identify the need for and implement change processes within Social Services Departments.
Internal Trainer
Management of Generic Unit for adults with Special Care needs and Challenging Behaviour.
Qualifications:
- Qualified Social Worker,- Selly Oak Colleges, United Kingdom.
- Applied Psychology,- Selly Oak Colleges, United Kingdom United Kingdom
- Degree in Operational and Strategic Management – United Kingdom
- Certificate in Management Studies. United Kingdom
- Investors in People Assessor – United Kingdom
- A range of CPD certificates pertinent to the field of autism, Asperger syndrome.
- Training the Trainer
Achievements & awards:
- Part of the team who developed the National Autistic Society SPELL framework.
- Part of the team who conducted the Autism Accreditation assessments and panel member.
- Investors in People Assessor
- EarlyBird Trainer (Autism Parent Training, NAS)
- SocialEyes facilitator (Social programmes for Asperger individuals, NAS)
- PCP (Person Centered Planning) facilitator
- Autism Support Counsellor (NAS PROJECT) to RELATE – marriage guidance council
- Regulation 26 (CQC standards UK) -Appointed Visitor
Publications and Media:
- Daily Telegraph – Supporting Parents with transition to residential Services. Article May 1998
- Community Care Magazine – Parents of autistic children urged to use support schemes August 2002
- Observer / Guardian – Asperger Syndrome- May 19, 2001 – ‘Angela Finne, a social worker who specialises in autism, notes that her clients have difficulty understanding surreal humour’
- Daily Mail – Starting up Residential Services for Autism – Article – 1999
- Contributor -The process of Ageing and Autism – .2003
- Contributor – Ignored and Ineligible? The reality for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders- 2001 (Angela Finne)
- BBC Channel 5 TV – Gloria Hunniford Show – Interview on Diet and Autism
- BBC Radio – You and Yours – Interview on the impacts of Autism on families
- ITV Breakfast TV – A look behind the doors of Residential Autism Services
- Cyprus Radio – Phone in Q & A for Autism parents
- UK House of Commons – Presentation to MP’s on Autism and Mental Capacity.
Training delivered:
United Kingdom:
- National Autistic Society:
- Delivered a range of training in autism, Asperger syndrome, behaviour, social understanding, mental health, transition planning, Person Centered Planning, Leadership and management,
- NAS accredited SPELL trainer
- Training the trainer.
- ACCREDO Support & Development:
- Staff training in Autism, Mental Health approaches and Management
- Sussex Autism Society
- Staff training on a range of Autism specific themes
- Northamptonshire Social Services
- Delivered a range of courses on Learning Difficulties, including Sexuality and Relationships
International:
- Abu Dhabi – UAE – Management and Soft Skills Training to Abu Dhabi Police Force
- Cyprus – AASP – Introduction to Autism, Using visual Structures, Communication in Autism
Famagusta Autism Society – a range of Autism specific courses, Supervisory Management, Person Centered Planning
- ESIPP – (Equity and Social Inclusion through Positive Parenting)
Autism 5 day training delivered to professionals and parents in North Macedonia, Croatia and Cyprus. Included Training Trainers
- ShipCon – Cyprus
- Special Educational Needs
- Autism
- Soft Skills
- Management
Conference presentations:
United Kingdom:
- Presented at a range of conferences including:
- Partnership working between Local Authorities and Autism Providers- National Autistic Society conferences
- Leicester University Diversity Conference – ‘All about Autism’
- United Kingdom – ESIPP – Working with Structure in Autism
International:
- North Macedonia – ESIPP Conference – Sensory Impacts in Autism
- Croatia – ESIPP – Sensory Impacts in Autism
- Cyprus – ESIPP – Joint working with Parents in Autism
- Cyprus – SENPower – The impacts of Special Educational Needs on Development and overview of the programme
- Portugal- SENPower – The impacts of SENPower on young people with Special Educational Needs on Development and overview of the programme
Research programmes and collaborative work:
- ESIPP Project – Partners – UK, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Croatia – Developing Autism research- based training for Parents and training trainers in each partner country
- SENPower – Partners from Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Italy. Developing tools to support young adults with Specific Learning Difficulties and Entrepreneurship.
- PCP Autism – Partners – Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, North Macedonia Cyprus, Greece – Developing Person Centered Planning tools and training with relation to children and adults with Autism
- Ageing in Autism Project – National Autistic Society
- Grendon Underwood Prison, UK. – Therapeutic approaches with Cat A. B prisoners (Selly Oak Colleges and the Prison Services)
- Cyprus Ministry for Education – Environment and Practise Assessments in Paphos Area Special Needs provision in schools – comprehensive reports.
Memberships & Collorations:
- Autism Accreditation- Panel member: 100 – 2007– 2011.
- Famagusta Autism Support Group – Board Member – 2017 – Present.
What is included?
| Life time access | 03:24:00 hours of video | 1 Module,
3 Units, 10 Topics |
Three months online support | Certificate/CPD |