Invitation to a One day Conference:
Neurodiversity in FE and HE: positive initiatives for specific learning
differences
at Campus Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester
Friday 16 September 2005
Covering: dyspraxia, dyscalculia, ADHD and autism spectrum including
Asperger's syndrome
Conference Fee £95 per person
This conference builds on the highly successful event focused on
neurodiversity held at De Montfort University in September 2004. This agenda
continues to increase in relevance; HESA reports that between 1994 and 2003,
numbers of students 'other disabilities' increased by more than 220%.
The specific learning differences on which we will be focusing are covered
by the Disability Discrimination Act Part 4 (also known as SENDA). All
institutions are required by law to avoid disadvantaging students with
special educational needs and disabilities.
Featuring speakers who play prominent roles in the field, the conference
offers a variety of topics. It will be of interest to all those involved in
working with and supporting students in further and higher education.
Programme
9.30 Coffee and registration
9.55 Welcome and introduction
10.00 Dr James Palfreman-Kay: Dynamic institutional policy for
neurodiversity in FE and HE
10:45 Jo Todd: Self-knowledge and disclosure: key issues for neurodiverse
people in the workplace
11.30 Coffee
11.50 Katherine Hewlett: Facilitating neurodiverse students to Aim
Higher
12.35 Lunch
1.30 Frances Wright & Jan Robertson: How does neurodiversity affect the
learning of Maths? A practical workshop
2.15 Dr David Pollak: Neurodiversity in HE: the student voice
3.00 Plenary discussion and questions
3.30 Tea
4.00 Conference closes
There will be displays by the following organisations and products:
o Association of Dyslexia Specialists in Higher Education
o AchieveAbility
o De Montfort University Student Learning Advisory Service
o Developmental Adult Neurodiversity Association
o DyscalculiUm
o DyslexSim
o Dyscalculia and Dyslexia Interest Group
o Key4Learning
o Lucid Adult Dyslexia Screener
o National Association of Disability Officers
o National Disability Team
DyscalculiUm is a new computer-based screener for dyscalculia in HE.
DyslexSim is a computer programme which simulates the effects of
Meares-Irlen Syndrome and suggests way to mitigate these.
If you would like to display a poster, please contact the organiser (David
Pollak).
Speakers:
Katherine Hewlett is the Project Manager of the AchieveAbility Project,
aimed at breaking barriers to HE for students with specific learning
difficulties. It is part of the AimHigher initiative.
Dr James Palfreman-Kay is Manager of the Additional Learning Needs Service
at the University of Bournemouth and Chair of the National Association of
Disability Officers.
Dr David Pollak is Principal Lecturer in Learning Support and Dyslexia
Studies at De Montfort University and a National Teaching Fellow (Learning
Support).
Jo Todd is a Director of Key 4 Learning, which provides skills, resources
and information to promote understanding of hidden disabilities.
Frances Wright and Jan Robertson are lecturers at De Montfort University.
Among their roles is supporting students in the Maths Learning Centre.
The term 'neurodiversity' was coined by people identified with Asperger's
Syndrome in the USA. An example of this work can be seen at
www.neurodiversity.com, sub-titled
"honoring the diversity of human wiring".
There is printable registration form at
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/student_services/slas/dyslexia/conf.jsp?Component
ID=10223
&SourcePageID=5402#1
(Please print the form and send it by post.)
Hope to see you again,
David Pollak
0116 257 7831