Barriers to Attendance

Every professional has met the child who cannot let an unfairness go, and most have been told she is being defiant, rigid or oversensitive. This 90-minute training explains what is actually happening, and gives you practical, neuro-affirming ways to support autistic children and adults without asking them to care less about fairness.

Duration: 1.5 hours

Format: Virtual, interactive webinar with reflection points and time for questions (unless otherwise arranged)

Audience: All school staff and volunteers. No prior knowledge required.

Group size: Up to 40 staff

Price: £360 (no VAT currently) for up to 40 staff

Trainer: Neurodivergent-led delivery with lived experience

Scheduling: UK time; evening sessions available; contact us for international arrangements

Attendance systems are built on the idea that a learner who is not coming in is choosing not to. For many autistic and ADHD learners, especially girls and gender-diverse young people who have masked for years, that is not what is happening. They have been holding it together at a cost nobody can see, and school has quietly become unsafe.

Add rejection sensitivity, where a small correction lands as a huge one, and alexithymia, where feelings are hard to notice or name, and the learner who says "I'm fine" is often the one furthest from fine. Sanctions, reward systems and attendance pressure make it worse. Understanding what is in the way makes it possible to remove it.

This training helps participants:

To book Barriers to Attendance for your school, or to ask about combining it with our other school training, email hello@autisticgirlsnetwork.org.

This training covers difficult topics, including self-harm and thoughts of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling right now, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, at any time. Our community is also here.