Dear Colleague
At De Montfort University we are working on a new project called BRAIN.HE
(Best Resources for Achievement and Intervention re. Neurodiversity in
Higher Education). Key points about this are:
It aims to improve the Higher Education sectors response to
neurodiversity, including dyspraxia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, Autism Spectrum
(A.S.), Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder, Tourettes and
dyscalculia.
The project is funded by the HEFCE and organised by National
Teaching Fellow Dr David Pollak.
We are producing a national online resource to support higher
education students and their tutors by providing information and advice on
neurodiversity in higher education.
We will collate information which is currently scattered, and add
new materials applicable to H.E where none exist at present.
A number of students from Universities across the country have
already been interviewed, so that the web-site includes the student voice.
The web pages will model good practice for accessibility (but they
are not live yet).
There will be an expanding timetable of public lectures and
conferences to cover a range of specific learning differences. For
information about our next one, please go to:
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/student_services/slas/dyslexia/conf.jsp
Users of BRAIN.HE will include students, academics, student services staff,
disability staff, librarians and University policy-makers. Students will
use it to explore the relevance for them of the indicators of a range of
SpLDs, to discover effective study strategies and to find a community of
like-minded people. Online materials and forums will be accessible.
Academics will use it to learn about the nature of those SpLDs and
appropriate learning and teaching approaches. An important aim of BRAIN.HE
will be to promote the innovative concept of SpLDs as part of student
diversity; it will also aim to emphasise the fact that SpLD-wise practice
is fundamentally good practice in learning and teaching. It will be more
than a web site, and will offer courses, conferences and publications.
We are particularly interested in sharing best practice in neurodiversity
and are keen to contact Higher Education institutions nationwide to
ascertain what models of practice are in use. Please help by telling us
about:
your staff development work regarding neurodiversity
what support is being offered to students at your institution
URLs of on-line materials
any other ideas about neurodiversity you may be willing to share
with other institutions through the BRAIN.HE centre.
Please note that BRAIN.HE is mainly about aspects of neurodiversity other
than dyslexia, which is very well documented nationally. Your assistance
would be a vital contribution to the success of the project.
Thank you!
Johannah Latchem (Research Assistant) 0116 257 7254
David Pollak [log in to unmask] 0116 257 7831
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