Ongoing

RNIB TELEPHONE PARENT WORKSHOPS

The Royal National Institute of the Blind’s Talk and Support department has introduced two free one-and-a-half-hour telephone workshops for parents of children with sight loss, funded by the Department for Education and Skills. They are: Your teenager - relationships, sex education and independence, and Preparing for the future - life beyond compulsory education.

Contact: 0845 330 3723; www.rnib.org.uk

From June 22

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER COURSES

ADD Excellence is presenting workshops on teaching key stage 1 and 2 children with ADHD in Blackpool, June 22; Stafford, June 29; Chorley, June 30; Northwich, September 29; Stafford, October 12. They include management strategies and communication skills to improve curriculum access and minimise disruptive behaviour.

Similar workshops for key stage 3 and 4 teachers will be held in Chorley, Lancashire, July 7; and Stafford, October 13.

Contact: Carol Weston on 01257 265103; carolannweston@aol.com

June 30

QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG

Professor Al Aynsley Green, children’s commissioner for England, is key speaker at this conference organised by Neil Stewart Associates at the Barbican Centre, London EC2. It will highlight ways of ensuring mental health is at the heart of the reformed children’s services under the Change for Children agenda.

Contact: Keith Clifford on 020 7324 4357; keith.clifford@neilstewartassociates.co.uk

From July 6

LISTENING PROGRAM TRAINING COURSE

This music-based auditory stimulation method claims to benefit individuals with autistic spectrum disorders, ADHD, dyspraxia and emotional and behavioural difficulties by training the brain to improve the auditory skills needed to listen, learn and communicate effectively. Two-day provider training programmes are being held in Edinburgh, July 6-7; Belfast, September 15-16; Sheffield, December 1-2. Fee: pound;225 plus VAT.

Contact: 01274 777250; www.learning-solutions.co.uk

July 8-9

THE GENESIS EXPERIENCE

Cutting Edge is running this teachers’ development programme in Manchester.

It looks at using emotional intelligence, accelerated learning, lateral thinking and neuro-linguistic programming to establish positive relationships and improve students’ results. Fee: pound;95-pound;125.

Contact: 01706 229858; info@cuttingedgemotivation.co.uk

Ongoing

SUNFIELD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

This Stourbridge-based centre (see page 8) is offering courses in: Structured teaching for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder, June 22-23; Sex and the three Rs (rights, relationships, responsibilities), June 24; introducing Makaton, June 28; Drama for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties, July 1; and Rhythm and thyme - spice up your day the West African way, July 12. Fees start at pound;60.

Contact: 01562 883183; rosew@sunfield.worcs.sch.uk

INFORMATION

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY IN THEATRE AND LEARNING DISABILITY

A research student is required to undertake a three-year PhD studentship in theatre and learning disability, for which Bradford-based Mind the Gap theatre company and The Workshop Theatre at Leeds University have received funding through the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Mind the Gap is renowned for its talented company of learning disabled actors and accredited training courses.

Contact: Dr Frances Babbage at f.h.babbage@leeds.ac.uk

For an application form email l.e.ward@leeds.ac.uk

SPONSORSHIP REQUEST

ATLANTIC CHALLENGE:INCLUSION CROSSING

The Tenacious, a square-rigged tall ship with a crew of able-bodied and disabled people, is sailing the Atlantic during November. Taking part in all activities on board will be Mark Vaughan, founder and co-director of the Centre for Studies in Inclusive Education, who is seeking sponsorship for the centre and publicising inclusion.

Contact: www.csie.org.uk

TELEVISION

Make Me Normal

Channel 4, June 2, 9pm

An extraordinary journey into the world of autism, this is the result of six months’ filming with four children at one of the UK’s largest state schools for children with autism and Asperger syndrome. With no parents or experts to speak on their behalf, the children talk about what it is like to be autistic.

GO FOR IT! RELATIONSHIPS

BBC2, June 23, 4-6am, for ages 11-16

This new unit features presenters, contributors and actors with learning difficulties organised under the headings: Me and my body; Me and other people; My behaviour in public and private places; Touch in different relationships; How to say no to relationships I don’t want.

GO FOR IT! CHOICES

BBC2, June 24, 2-4am, for ages 11-16

Documentary-style programmes to help young people with severe learning difficulties or disabilities cope with everyday life and increase their independence. It includes 15-minute sections on: things I like; going to the shop; being clean; going out for a meal; going away.

GO FOR IT! LIFESKILLS

BBC2, June 24, 4-6am, for ages 16-18

Documentaries for those nearing school leaving age who have severe learning difficulties or disabilities. It includes 20-minute sections on: school, college, work, living with family and living with friends.

TEACHERS’ TV (digital cable and satellite)

SPECIAL SCHOOLS - PE: CHANGING THE RULES

June 4, 8.30pm

At Marjorie McClure special school, secondary pupils help plan PE lessons, adapting the equipment and rules while learning how to become team leaders.

Advanced skills teacher Guy Wilkins offers insights into peer tutoring, evaluation and cross-curricular opportunities.

PRIMARY SPECIAL NEEDS: EMOTIONAL LITERACY

June 13, 2pm; June 14, 7pm

Emotional literacy support assistants have proved effective at a school that was once in special measures but now is in its borough’s top ten.

These programmes demonstrate how the assistants work with children who have difficulty understanding their emotions, and how biofeedback computer programs enable the children to learn how to control their heart rates and their stress levels.

SECONDARY SPECIAL NEEDS: NURTURING THE NEW,

June 13, 3pm; June 14, 8pm; June 19, 3pm

Shoeburyness high school in Essex uses primary teachers to help children who are academically behind most of their peers to transfer from primary to mainstream secondary education.

I WANT MY LITTLE BOY BACK

June 14 and 16, 10pm

Follow the progress of 5-year-old Jordan, who is autistic, through the Option Process, a treatment that involves parent and child working intensely together in one room for 12 hours a day.

Contributions to the diary should be sent to SNExtra@tes.co.uk