Dates:   Wednesday 19th & 26th March 2025
Times:   7 - 8 pm
Venue:  Online via Zoom

Target Audience:

• Teachers and special needs assistants who would like to expand their learning on neurodiversity and who want to become more neuro-affirmative in their work whilst supporting neuro-diversity in the classroom.
• The presentation is given by Primary Care Therapists from Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy who do not work on the Children’s Disability Team.
• The therapists will not be able to answer questions on psychology or behavioural challenges that present within the classroom setting.

Session 1: Wednesday 19th March 2025 @ 7pm

In this session, the presenters will cover:

• What is neurodiversity?
• The importance of neuro-affirmative language and neuro-affirmative approaches
• What are sensory processing differences?
• Practical sensory strategies for the classroom.
• Q&A session.

Session 2: Wednesday 26th March 2025 @ 7pm

In this session, the presenters will cover:

• Social communication preferences in neurodiversity.
• Communication strategies such as using visual supports and social stories to overcome communication challenges in everyday classroom situations.
• Q&A session

Bio of Presenters

Tegan O' Riordan
Tegan is a Speech and Language Therapist with the South Kerry Primary Care Services, where she works with children to support their communication and developmental differences. Previously, she has worked in a multi-disciplinary setting, conducting autism assessments and diagnoses for children and their families. Tegan is passionate about working with neuro-divergent children, advocating for a neuro-affirmative approach that emphasizes identifying strengths and supporting them to overcome challenges. In her current role, Tegan provides a range of services to support both neuro-divergent children and their families. This includes parent education sessions and social communication groups for younger children and teenagers across the county, helping parents and children navigate their social communication differences and to develop a supportive communication environment.

Anna Marie McGillycuddy
Anna Marie McGillycuddy is an Occupational Therapist working in HSE South Kerry Primary Care Paediatric Occupational Therapy Services. Here, she works with children with non-complex needs. She works collaboratively with children and families to identify functional goals and support participation in daily life, such as, self-care skills, motor skills, and sensory processing differences. Anna Marie graduated with a BSc honours degree in Occupational Therapy from University College Cork. She has experience working in various settings such as primary care, mental health, disability services, and within a multi-disciplinary team providing autism assessments. Anna Marie is interested in supporting neuro-divergent children and their families, through promoting and advocating for neuro-affirmative approaches across home, school, and community environments.

Sinead Ashe
Sinéad Ashe is a Speech and Language Therapist working within HSE Kerry Primary Care Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Services. Here, she works with children of all ages, from their toddler to teenage years, helping to support communication and social differences. Sinéad graduated with a BSc honours degree in Speech and Language Therapy from University College Cork in 2012. She worked privately for a year providing Speech and Language Therapy services in two school settings before taking up a role with the HSE in 2013. Since that time, Sinéad has supported many autistic and neurodivergent children and their families and she is passionate about meeting children where they are and supporting their strengths to help overcome challenges.