Supporting Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: A Guide for School Support Staff

Lynn Plimley originally trained to teach children with Special Educational Needs in the mid-70s, and since 1979 has worked with children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). She has worked in generic special schools for primary aged children, residential schools for those with SLD and has been part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting inclusion. She was the first Principal of Coddington Court School in Herefordshire, a provision for children aged 8–19 with ASD.

She works part-time as a Lecturer in ASD at the University of Birmingham on their web-based course (http://www.webautism.bham.ac.uk). She also tutors M.Ed dissertation students for the Course in ASD (Distance Learning), and is a member of the internationally respected Autism team, based at the University of Birmingham's School of Education, led by Professor Rita Jordan.

Lynn also works for Autism Cymru, establishing a mechanism for mainstream Secondary, Primary and Special school teachers, to share good practice. She offers consultancy as a trainer for any kind of provision for people with ASD, and has built up a national profile of training in the importance of understanding the condition of autistic spectrum disorders for schools and care establishments. Lynn is the Book Editor, and an Editorial Board member, of the Good Autism Practice Journal.

Maggie gained her academic and professional qualifications at universities in Aberystwyth, Leeds and Bangor. She began her teaching career in a school for children with severe learning difficulties (SLD), and went on to work as a Community Liaison Teacher for individuals with SLD. She has been a Team Inspector of secondary and special schools and a Threshold Assessor, and has worked as part of a multi-agency team responsible for developing a range of new services for individuals of all ages with SLD.

She was Programme Leader for Special Educational Needs courses and the MA in Education at the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI). She has worked for the Welsh Assembly Government as Development Officer for Inclusion in Wales with a specific responsibility for Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Able and Talented and SEN Training in Wales.

[Page vii]She joined the team at Autism Cymru as Head of Public and Voluntary Sector Partnerships/Deputy CEO in January 2005. She has published on a range of SEN issues in books and journals, and is still committed to training and consultancy work with a range of practitioners from health, social services, education, the criminal justice system and the emergency services.