23TRA522 Building Bridges of Connection: Nurturing Social Skills in the School Setting

Date:     Monday 2nd October 2023
Time:     7 pm - 8.30 pm
Venue:  Online via Zoom

Target Audience: Primary level teachers, SNAs, SET Teachers

Join us for an impactful webinar dedicated to empowering educators in nurturing social skills and fostering meaningful connections within the school setting. As caring professionals, we often wonder how we can support our students in building friendships and developing essential social competencies. This session is designed to equip you with ethical and informed strategies to facilitate social skill development, creating a positive and inclusive social environment for all learners.

In this engaging 60-minute session, we will delve into various aspects of social skills and social communication, exploring the development of social interactions both in typical and atypical contexts. Discover effective ways to facilitate and support your pupils while learning about the importance of recognizing when not to intervene. We will also explore practical techniques for seamlessly integrating social skill development into your day-to-day teaching practices.

Led by Alanna O'Connor, a passionate Speech and Language Therapist with extensive experience working with young people with autism and social communication disorders, this session will offer valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance social skill interventions. This dynamic webinar is suitable for dedicated SNAs, teachers, and SET at both primary level, but will be applicable at post-primary levels. Join us as we embark on this transformative journey together, empowering our students to build lasting connections and thrive socially within a supportive and inclusive school community.

Secure your spot now and become an advocate for fostering meaningful connections and nurturing social skills in the school setting!

What is covered:

• Social skills and social communication
  
• Development of social interaction
  
• How best to facilitate and support your pupil – and when to not!
  
• How to embed this into your day-to-day
  
• Discussion on relevant ethical issues in social skill interventions

Bio of Presenter: Alanna O' Connor

Alanna O’Connor is a highly experienced and dedicated speech and language therapist who brings a wealth of expertise and passion to the field of neurodiversity, speech and language disorders, and disability supports in education. With years of experience, Alanna is dedicated to empowering education staff in Ireland to create inclusive and supportive environments for all pupils.

Alanna has worked extensively with teachers and SNAs across diverse educational settings. She is particularly interested in promoting literacy attainment and working with children and young people with disabilities. She is passionate about sharing knowledge with SNAs and teachers, as they work closely with children in a language-rich environment.

Alanna is all about spreading awareness, championing inclusivity, and creating a positive educational journey for individuals with autism, language disorders, intellectual disability, ADHD and others. Through her webinars she hopes to empower education staff in Ireland to have an exclusive chance to grasp invaluable insights, practical tools, and foster a supportive learning environment that benefits all students.