26TRA750 Supporting Literacy for Gestalt Language Processors

 

 

 

 

 

DATE:    Thursday, 5th November 2026
TIME:     7.00pm - 8.00pm
VENUE: Online Via Zoom

Target Audience: Primary school teachers and SNAs; ideal for anyone supporting autistic children who learn language through Gestalt Language Processing.

Build confidence and practical skills to support literacy for Gestalt Language Processors in a busy classroom.

This webinar will help participants to get a clearer understanding of how Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) acquire language, and why they access reading and writing differently from analytic learners. The session explores alternative approaches to teaching literacy skills for GLPs, exploring how a whole-to-part, meaning-first approach opens up literacy for these children.

The focus throughout is on neuro-affirming, child-led strategies that can be implemented easily in the classroom — from personalised books and shared reading to using captions, songs, AAC and everyday print to build literacy across the school day. Participants will leave with a toolkit of low-prep, low-cost ideas and confidence that every child can become a reader and writer.

Jessica McGrath

Jessica McGrath is a qualified Speech and Language Therapist who graduated with a Master's in Speech and Language Therapy from the University of Limerick in 2017, following a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology. She has worked across a variety of settings, including primary care, disability teams and autism assessment teams. In 2019, she set up her own private practice, providing neuro-affirming, child-led, play-based therapy for neurodivergent children and their families, with a particular focus on autistic communication, Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and AAC. She also currently works with Solas Psychology as part of their autism identification multi-disciplinary team. In May 2026, she spoke at the Neurodiversity Ireland Summit alongside Alex Zachos from Meaningful Speech about strategies to support Gestalt Language Processors.

Jessica is passionate about supporting autistic children to develop language and literacy in ways that honour how they naturally learn, and about equipping teachers, SNAs and families to do the same.