Training
Stepping Stones DS offers a range of subsidised training courses for parents and professionals
Our courses aim to support those who work with children with Down Syndrome as well as parents and families. We try to promote a team approach to education and often see parents and professionals attending training alongside one another.
Training and Development
Stepping Stones organises a range of training workshops that help to open doors for our children and young people. We view this training as an investment in their future through sharing knowledge, information and support. Our workshops are open to families, schools, medical professionals and anyone with a desire to learn more about Down syndrome. Although we are lucky to work with some of the world’s leading speakers and trainers we heavily subsidise the training workshops to make them accessible to all.
How to Book
Places can be booked by emailing training@steppingstonesds.co.uk Please let us know the course titles, how many places you would like to book, your contact details and how you would like to pay. Payment can be made on the day, via BACS or we can issue an invoice. If an invoice is required, please do let us know.
Venue: Sentinel House, Harvest Crescent, Fleet, GU51 2UZ
Timings: 0930-1430
Cost: £15 members, £25 non-members unless stated otherwise.
Please note – we provide tea/coffee but do not provide lunch so packed lunches will be required.
Upcoming Training
| Date | Topic | Age Group | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th April 2018 | Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder – a speech and language therapy perspective | Symbol UK | |
| 25th April 2018 | Behaviour Workshops | Up to Secondary Age | Dimensions |
| 29th June 2018 | School Starters | YrR – 2 | Let’s Go |
Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder – a speech and language therapy perspective
This course is for everyone concerned with Autism Spectrum Disorder along with Down syndrome, regardless of whether a firm diagnosis has been made. We will focus on diagnosing ASD with DS and responding to the presenting issues that lead to discussion of ASD diagnosis, focusing particularly on behaviour. We expect to run a follow up day in the autumn.
Leela will discuss:
- What is autism?
- What do we know about autism in people with DS?
- Pathways to diagnosis and post diagnosis
- Behaviours in ASD and DS: obsessive behaviours, Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) & Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Managing anxiety
This workshop has been commissioned by Stepping Stones in response to requests from families. Leela Baksi, speech and language therapist with Symbol UK Ltd has worked with people with DS of all ages and children and young people with ASD in a range of settings for the past 25 years. She has supported children and young people with Down syndrome who also have a diagnosis of ASD, or where ASD has been discussed in the context of planning support and understanding issues.
Behaviour Workshops
During these workshops, attendees will learn a little about the science of human behaviour and applied behaviour analysis and how this can applied to children/young people with Down Syndrome. They will go on to discuss what we can do to encourage positive behaviour. Parts of the sessions will function as a workshop allowing time for discussion.
These workshops are being delivered by Nick Barratt. Nick is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst specialising in the field of autism and learning disability, which a particular emphasis on behaviours that challenge. He works for a not-for-profit organisation called Dimensions as its Head of Behaviour Support.
Nick serves on the board of the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis and chairs a professionals’ group called the Applied Behaviour Analysis Forum. He is a member of the Positive Behaviour Support Academy (PBS Academy), and is currently working with professionals and academics to promote research in Applied Behaviour Analysis in the UK.
Nick has a particular interest in skills-based intervention for behaviours that challenge, organisation-wide behaviour support and improving systems that support behavioural intervention.
School Starters
You can sign up to our Training Distribution List here
Booking Details and FAQs
Who can come?
All courses are open to parents/ carers and professionals
Can I bring my child?
Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate children at our training courses.
What time do the courses start/end?
- Weekday Courses – 9.30am – 2.30pm
- Saturday Workshop – 10.00am – 4.30 pm (TBC)
- Evening Makton Courses – 6.30pm – 9.30pm
- Weekend Makaton Courses – 10.00am – 4.00pm
How do we book?
Bookings should be sent to training@steppingstonesds.co.uk and payment can be made on the day or invoices can be issued. Please note that Stepping Stones DS is run by volunteers so we will respond to emails as soon as we can.