Inspire Foundation invites you to attend an event aimed at raising awareness about Autism. The event will be addressed by Ann Camilleri – The Inspire Foundation Gozo Services Manager, The Hon Clint Camilleri – Minister of Gozo, Dr Richard Mills – Research Director: Senior Research Fellow, Dr Damian Milton, Lecturer in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Tizard Centre, University of Kent., Dr Jacqui Ashton Smith – Autism & Education Consultant, and Charlene Borg – Parent Relations Manager at The Inspire Foundation.
During the course of proceedings, attendees shall learn about:
- Ten Rules for Ensuring People with Learning Disabilities and Those Who Are on the Autism Spectrum Develop ‘Challenging Behaviour’… and maybe what to do about it. Authors Richard Mills & Dr. Damian Milton will be helping attendees better understand those on the autism spectrum and/or with learning difficulties.
- The Identification and Diagnosis of Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum & the Education of Girls on the Autism Spectrum: the Importance of the Hidden Curriculum by Jacqui Ashton Smith takes a look at how girls on the autism spectrum present differently, how to recognize the masking and their different educational needs.
- Know thyself: How my self-awareness influences my caregiving by Charlene Borg, Family Relations Manager at Inspire Foundation. Charlene explores self-awareness and the ability to take a look at one self without attaching a judgement of being right or wrong. In her talk, she explores this and its influence one’s care-giving resources.
Speakers Biographies
Dr Richard Mills – Research Director: Senior Research Fellow
Richard is an Associate Consultant of AT-Autism, London: Research Fellow Dept Psychology, University of Bath, UK: Professor, Applied Autism Research, Taisho University, Tokyo, Japan: Senior Research Fellow, CASD, Bond University, Queensland, Australia: He is also a consultant at (ARC) Singapore and the Inspire Foundation, Malta; Advisor: Government of Jersey CI; Associate, Centre for Practice Innovation, Scottish Autism and an expert member of the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE). For twenty-five years Richard was with the National Autistic Society UK, as Director of Services and later Director of Research. He is a member of the Westminster Autism Commission and a Trustee of the John and Lorna Wing Foundation. His current interests are in programme and service evaluation, mental health, forensic issues, in particular cybercrime, and in behaviours of concern- the Synergy programme. He is a lead trainer on the SPELL programme in conjunction with the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent.
Dr Damian Milton, Lecturer in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Tizard Centre, University of Kent.
Damian works part-time for the Tizard Centre, University of Kent as a Lecturer in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Damian also teaches on the MA Education (Autism) programme at London South Bank University and has been a consultant for the Transform Autism Education (TAE) project and a number of projects for the Autism Education Trust (AET). Damian’s interest in autism began when his son was diagnosed in 2005 as autistic at the age of two. Damian was also diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2009 at the age of thirty-six. Damian’s primary focus is on increasing the meaningful participation of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in the research process and chairs the Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC).
Dr Jacqui Ashton Smith – Autism & Education Consultant
Jacqui is an experienced educationalist and trainer with 40 years of experience in the field of autism, education and leadership. Her education experience ranges from specialist teaching to Principalships and Education Operations management to developing and opening new schools and Directorships for a national UK charity. She is currently an Independent Consultant and also develops and delivers training modules for an EU training provider. She has delivered a wide range of training nationally and internationally, presented at major conferences world wide and currently her special interests are the identification and education of girls and women on the autism spectrum, Neurodiversity and Leadership.
Charlene Borg – Parent Relations Manager at The Inspire Foundation.
Charlene Borg has been working with Inspire since 1998. She moved through different roles and responsibilities, and in 2011 she started leading the Family Relations Department. Charlene has a Bachelor Degree in Inclusion and Special Educational Needs and a Masters in Systemic Family Psychotherapy, working both with individuals and families. Her belief is that the level of support a person is surrounded by, is a powerful indicator of positive outcomes. With this in mind, she does her utmost to provide Inspire families with a variety of services aimed to empower, support and educate.
The full programme for the day can be downloaded via this link.