Request a Workshop

Schools request an AsIAm workshop for many different reasons. Sometimes they're experiencing difficulties, there is a lack of understanding among students or staff or sometimes a staff member is simply keen to ensure that the school is as inclusive as possible. Whatever the reason, AsIAm works hard to ensure that your workshop is personalised and tailored to your needs. You'll be assigned a local speaker that is a member of the Autism community

Visit

We can connect you with a local school who have already engaged in the AsIAm Schools Programme. You can arrange a visit or just a quick chat on the phone to learn about their experience.

There are a couple of things inolved in requesting a Workshop. Firstly, the very practical issues of deciding which year will participate and setting a time and date. We'll provide you with a short form to capture your preferences. You should note that the maximum number of students for a workshop is 35.

Fill in this short form to request a workshop and get started.

Meet your assigned Speaker

Your speaker will be assigned based on the information in your Request form completed at Step 1. Your speaker will be a member of the Autism community (person with Autism, parent, professional) ensuring that the workshop is as engaging and real as possible.

Tips

Investing a little bit of time with your workshop speaker beforehand will ensure that the workshop is as valuable and relevant as possible for your school.

Once a date for your workshop has been agreed with AsIAm, you can begin preparations. This will start with talking to your assigned speaker to ensure they have a good understanding of your school, the reason you've requested the workshop and anything else they need to bear in mind to make the workshop as valuable and relevant as possible for your school.

If possible, they'll visit you at the school beforehand or else you can speak on the phone. They will also ask you to fill out an 'AsIAm Schools Contract' - this contract is not overly legalistic but just sets out the basic principles of what the programme wants to achieve, what's expected of the school and what you need to do before and after the workshop.

Prepare for the Workshop

 

Complete the “All About Me” booklet

Where there are students in your school on the Spectrum, your Speaker will give you an "All about Me"and a “My Child Booklet” to be completed by parents or the student themselves. This enables AsIAm prepare for the workshop and to flag any concerns in advance.

 

 

Permission from parents

Different schools have different approaches to informing parents of workshops which are taking place. Due to the personal nature of Autism, it is really important, that every school sends a permission slip home to every student before the workshop. The school is responsible for compiling this themselves and can use the introductory text of this guide to explain the workshop in the letter.

 

 

Survey

Your speaker will circulate a survey to your school prior to the workshop, this enables AsIAm to measure knowledge and attitude of the students before and after the workshop so it is an important quality assurance test. You should give it to students one week before the workshop and return it to your speaker.

 

Workshop Day

The Workshop takes place over 90 minutes and involves talking about Autism in the context of difference generally, a difference which brings challenges, opportunities and even strengths. It will be very tailored to your school's needs and while it is a once-off event, AsIAm will work to maintain active relationships with schools wishing to implement the ideas for inclusion their students come up with.

What you'll need on the day:

1. Computer, Projector and Speakers – these will need to be set up before your Speaker arrives.
2. A teacher present at all times – For insurance reasons, a teacher is present at all times during the presentation
3. Donation - AsIAm asks schools to make a donation towards their work. The donation is not compulsory as they would hate to restrict their message to schools that can afford it, however most schools can afford to give something and are happy to do so. The suggested donation is 250 euro. An invoice is issued from AsIAm HQ for this.

 

Design a school 'Inclusion Charter'

This is one of the most important parts of the workshop. Your Speaker and the students will have designed an “Inclusion Charter” during the course of the workshop.

AsIAm will use this to create a Poster that can be used as a momento of the visit and a statement of intent from students moving forward!

It'll be good to give this prominence in the school to remind everyone of what they committed to.

AsIAm will also keep in touch with your school, adding you to the schools newsletter and send you new materials as they become available.