Description
About the speakers
Prof Tony Attwood PhD With a remarkable career spanning five decades, Professor Tony Attwood is one of the world’s foremost specialists on Autism. Holding an Honour’s degree in Psychology from the University of Hull, a Master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Surrey, and a PhD from the University of London, his credentials are a testament to his expertise. Currently serving as an adjunct Professor at Griffith University in Queensland, Professor Attwood’s impact has enriched the global understanding of autism.
Alongside Dr Michelle Garnett, Professor Attwood co-founded Attwood & Garnett Events in 2019, driven by the shared goal of enhancing autism awareness and understanding. Their shared vision seeks to reshape the narrative surrounding autism to create a world where autism is embraced, and the diverse strengths, talents, and perspectives of autistic individuals are celebrated. This transformative narrative fosters a more inclusive and accepting society, benefitting all its members.
Renowned for his extensive contributions to understanding Asperger’s Syndrome, now commonly referred to as autism, Professor Attwood has authored numerous publications on the subject. His seminal book, Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals debuted in 1998, resonated globally and has since found its voice in over 25 languages, making his insights accessible across cultures and continents.
With a dedicated commitment to practical application, he has run a private practice for 30 years, only recently closing his books due to a long waiting list. Beyond his clinical work, he dedicates significant time to travel, sharing insights and knowledge through workshops and seminars across national and international platforms.
Dr Michelle Garnett PhD is a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of specialising in autism. In 2005, she founded Minds & Hearts, a clinic specialised to autism, where she served as Clinical and Managing Director for 14 years until 2019. Alongside Tony Attwood she co-founded Attwood & Garnett Events in 2019, aiming to enhance autism awareness and understanding with a vision to foster a neuro-affirming community.
In addition to her extensive private practice, Dr Garnett has significantly contributed to autism research, authored influential books, and engaged in impactful speaking engagements. Her peer-reviewed research has informed our understanding of early autism identification, the female autism profile, and the link between mental health and positive outcomes in autistic individuals. She has co-authored six respected books on autism, including the influential Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism (2018) with Barb Cook, a seminal work on the female autism experience. Her recent books, Having Fun with Feelings on the Autism Spectrum and Ten Steps to Reducing Your Child’s Anxiety on the Autism Spectrum offer invaluable guidance to parents of young autistic children.
Dr Garnett is a sought-after presence in academic circles, presenting as a Keynote Speaker at conferences and conducting workshops, seminars, and training sessions on autism across Australia, the UK, and Europe. Her influence extends to universities, autism organisations, government, and non-governmental bodies, solidifying her reputation as a prominent figure in the autism field. Dr Garnett is autistic and has ADHD, late diagnosed.
Module Breakdown
Module 1 – Participants will gain increased understanding of common speech and language disorders that can co-occur with autism and how these can contribute to the emergence and maintenance of challenging behaviour. A programme based on scientific research, clinical wisdom and specific knowledge of autism is described for encouraging language in children with nonverbal autism. Participants will learn strategies for recognising the early signs of strong emotion and how to intervene at each level of emotional arousal for children with nonverbal autism.
Module 2 – Participants will develop an awareness of key aspects of the learning profile in autism. Equipped with an understanding of how autistic individuals learn, participants will be able to apply this knowledge to their teaching methods, as parents, carers, teachers and therapists.
Module 3 – Narrow circumscribed interests are often part of the autism profile and it can be difficult to know when to intervene. Participants will learn the reasons behind the special interests of autism, why these develop, the functions they serve, and when to act to modify the interest or decrease the time spent on the interest.
Module 4 – Social communication issues are one of the defining features of autism, and the source of marked distress and confusion, leading to challenging behavior. Participants will leave the course with an understanding of the key issues underlying social communication problems in autism, how to encourage social skills in autism, and how to make interactions with people on the autism spectrum successful.
Module 5 – Sensory overwhelm can be a key factor behind challenging behaviour. Participants will learn how to recognise and assess sensory processing differences, and how to intervene to manage a broad variety of sensory issues, including visual, auditory, taste, smell, touch, vestibular, interoceptive, proprioceptive and vestibular sensory issues.
Module 6 – Participants will learn why people with autism tend to experience very strong emotions that can underpin challenging behaviour. They will leave the course understanding the neurology behind difficulties expressing emotion in autism, and will learn practical strategies to assist a person on the autism spectrum to manage anger, anxiety and stress without challenging behaviour.
Module 7 – Some of the issues people with autism face that can lead to challenging behaviour are movement disorders and underlying medical issues. The course covers various movements disorders medical conditions that commonly occur in autism. Participants will learn how these can be masked and the importance of recognising these when faced with challenging behaviour.
