Autism and ADHD - Understanding Sensory Environment in School

About this course

A Certificate of Completion for 2.5 hours Professional Development will be available for you to download upon completion of this course. 

Sensory experiences shape how students think, feel, and learn. For many autistic and ADHD learners, everyday classroom inputs—light, sound, movement, temperature, textures, and visual clutter—can stack up fast, driving stress, pain, and overwhelm that looks like “inattention,” “avoidance,” or sudden shutdowns. This practical webinar reframes those moments as understandable nervous-system responses and shows you exactly how to reduce sensory load without blowing the budget.

Barb Cook, M.Aut.(Ed) — Registered Developmental Educator, NDIS Specialist Level PBS Practitioner, Integrative Nutritionist, and accredited athletics coach — will unpack common sensory stressors in classroom environments and offer clear, doable adjustments that benefit all learners. You’ll learn how to read what behaviour is communicating, design supportive routines, and co-create self-advocacy pathways so students can participate, learn, and thrive.

What you’ll learn

  • How sensory processing differences (hyper- and hyposensitivity) appear in classrooms — and what to look for.
  • Low- and no-cost environmental tweaks (lighting, layout, acoustics, temperature, visual load) that immediately lower sensory stress.
  • The role of interoception, proprioception, movement, and stimming in regulation — and how to build them in without disrupting learning.
  • Communication strategies that respect processing time and reduce cognitive load.
  • How sensory overwhelm impacts executive functioning (planning, organisation, task initiation), task inertia, and “procrastination.”
  • Reading the function of behaviour: what movement, withdrawal, or escalation may be communicating.
  • Links between sensory load, PDA and RSD profiles, attendance difficulties, and school refusal — with compassionate, practical responses.
  • Self-monitoring tools, predictable routines, and student voice: building self-determination and advocacy skills.

Topics:

  • What does a sensory friendly classroom look like
  • Communication and processing
  • Sensory processing
  • What are sensory stressors in the classroom
  • How sensory overwhelm impacts learning and behaviours
  • Understanding interoception
  • Emotional regulation
  • Proprioception
  • Layout and temperature
  • The need for movement – stimming, fidgeting, restlessness
  • What movement is communicating
  • Self-monitoring
  • Impact on executive functioning, organisation and planning
  • Task inertia
  • Overwhelm and procrastination
  • Distractions in the classroom
  • Routines
  • Impact of PDA and RSD on behaviours in relation to sensory overwhelm
  • School refusal
  • Building self-determination and self-advocacy


This webinar provides valuable insights, tools and strategies for teachers, teacher aides, learning support staff, support workers, developmental educators, occupational therapists, allied health professionals, carers, parents, autistic and ADHD people.

This course may be claimable for Self & Plan Managed NDIS Participants. Please check with your plan manager/LAC.

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Course Content

    1. Autism, ADHD and School - Understanding Sensory Environment and Behaviours in the Classroom

    2. Presentation Slides

    3. Recommended Readings (Books)

    4. Website Links
  • $69.00
  • 2.5 hours of video content
  • Certificate of Completion for 2.5 Hours Professional Development
  • 30 Days to complete course

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About the Presenters

Barb Cook Girl Women Autism Workshop

Barb Cook, M.Aut.(Ed), Dip.HSc.(Nut)

Registered Developmental Educator | NDIS Registered Specialist Level Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner | Integrative Nutritionist | Accredited Athletics Coach

Barb Cook is a registered Developmental Educator, past Deputy Chair of the Developmental Educators Australia Incorporated (DEAI), NDIS registered Specialist Level Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner, an Integrative Nutritionist, an accredited Australian Athletics Youth Development Coach and accredited athletics coach (specialising in throws) with Australian Track and Field Coaching Association (ATFCA).

Barb was diagnosed with ADHD, autism and dyslexia 2009 bringing a lived experience perspective alongside her clinical and research practice. She is a highly committed advocate, writer, editor, and highly sought-after international speaker. She has made appearances on Australian radio and television, in newspapers and magazines, and in the SBS television documentary The Chameleons: Women with Autism.

Barb holds a Master of Autism degree (education) from the University of Wollongong where she was also a researcher and co-project lead in the area of self-determination and self-advocacy for autistic teens and adults.

Barb takes a holistic approach in working with autistic/ADHD people and is dedicated to improving the overall well-being and quality of life for autistic, ADHD and dyslexic people. She is currently engaged in multiple research projects in the USA including a five year study on A Comparison of Two Brief Suicide Prevention Interventions Tailored for Youth on the Autism Spectrum, Comparing Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy versus Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Autistic Adults, and autism and ageing. 

Barb is internationally recognised for her bestselling book on autism in women, Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism with Dr Michelle Garnett, filling the gap in literature between lived experience of autistic women and the clinical knowledge. Barb’s second best-selling book co-authored with Yenn Purkis, The Autism and Neurodiversity Self-Advocacy Handbook: Developing Skills to Determine Your Own Future, is an essential guidebook that gives you the tools and strategies to advocate for yourself in any situation, developing your skills in standing up for yourself, your needs and wishes. Barb's third book, Planning Your Career Through Intense Interests is focused on assisting young autistic adults in navigating careers pathways.

Barb is founder of Spectrum Women Magazine and is a prolific writer on autism, ADHD and health and wellbeing.

Barb is a highly sought-after international speaker and presents on a variety of topics. Barb spoke at the World Autism Organisation Congress 2018 in Houston Texas, in 2019 she was invited by the United States government to keynote a special event “A Woman’s Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs” for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIHM) in Washington DC, USA and 2024 spoke with Dr Temple Grandin, Dr Rebecca Evanko and Taylor Heaton in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA at AutFest on autistic women.

Barb was awarded the “A Different Brilliant” award at the Aspect National Recognition Awards in Sydney and the Leadership Support Award from the Neurodiversity Academy in 2021. In 2017 she received a Special Commendation from Queensland’s Governor, his Excellency, Paul De Jersey for the Autism Queensland Creative Futures Awards.

Barb is a passionate motorcyclist and a master's athlete specialising in javelin, discus, and shot put. She is also an all-around athletics coach and a dedicated volunteer at her local athletics club, where she supports young people of all abilities in discovering fun and fitness through athletics. Barb also enjoys roller skating and rollerblading at an outdoor rink near her home, and riding her motorcycle which helps her practice self-care and effectively reduces anxiety and combats depression.

Visit www.neurodiversityhub.com/barb-cook/ and www.barbcook.com.au to learn more about Barb Cook.

Published research:

29 August 2024: Brief Report: Under-Identification of Symptomatic Menopause in Public-Insured Autistic People. Teal W. Benevides, Barb Cook, Laura G. Klinger, Kiley J. McLean, Gregory L. Wallace, Meghan E. Carey, Wei-Lin Lee, Jonas Ventimiglia, Lauren D. Schiff and Lindsay Shea. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.  doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x

19 May 2020: Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project. Teal W Benevides, Stephen Shore, May-Lynn Andresen, Barb Cook, Steven S. Coughlin, Dena L Gassner, Becca Lory Hector, and Lisa Morgan. Sage Journals: Autism doi.org/10.1177/1362361320908410 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361320908410

11 May 2020: Interventions to address health outcomes among autistic adults: A systematic review. Teal W. Benevides, Stephen Shore, May-Lynn Andresen, Reid Caplan, Barb Cook, Dena L Gassner, Jasmine M Erves, Taylor M Hazlewood, M Caroline King, Lisa Morgan, Lauren E Murphy, Yenn Purkis, Brigid Rankowski, Sarah M Rutledge, Savannah P Welch and Karl Wittig. Sage Journals: Autism. doi.org/10.1177/1362361320913664 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361320913664

 


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