The Middletown Centre for Autism Podcast

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In this episode, we’re talking about belonging and inclusion. We chat to Louise King, Middletown staff member, who shares her experience supporting autistic children and young people in lots of different school settings. We talk about the importance of inclusion, where challenges might arise and how to address them. Louise shares really useful examples and practical ideas.

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A pupil walks into a classroom and instantly scans for one thing: am I safe to be myself here? That simple question sits underneath everything we explore with Middletown colleagues Finola McElhatton and Ruth McCausland as we dig into what inclusion really means and why “rightful presence” raises the bar even further.
We talk about what happens when autistic students aren’t included, worries that educators might have and advice for school staff who want to create a safe environment for everyone.

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In the latest episode of the Middletown Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Schaefer, Director of Equity and Inclusive Practices for California’s Supporting Inclusive Practices (SIP) project. We ask how we can support students to experience belonging and power in the spaces where they learn? Our conversation centres on the concept of rightful presence, and why it helps schools move away from compliance towards human dignity. You’ll also hear practical, school-ready ideas: building self-advocacy over time, protecting the dignity of risk, and understanding Universal Design for Learning.

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In the latest episode we chat to poet, researcher and advocate, Kayren Hayes. Kayren has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She was very keen to share her journey as an autistic person, navigating a very serious health condition and navigating the healthcare system. 
Kayren is very honest about her experiences in cancer treatment, so if you feel like you can't hear about cancer and the challenges it poses, then it might be no harm to skip this episode for today. 
Kayren shares two stunning poems in the episode and, as ever, she is insightful and compassionate.

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We have another episode with Clinical Specialist OT, Susan Madigan. Susan brings a wealth of knowledge through working with university students. This episode is for students who are heading back to college or university but are feeling some dread about it. 
You can find out more about Susan's work here: https://www.susanmadigan.ie/