This is a 2-hour face-to-face event on the 'hot topic' of 'Autism, Neurodiversity & School Life'. The event is collaboratively designed and run between researchers in the Centre for Neurodiversity & Development, practitioners and Educational Psychologists in the Communication and Interaction Team at Durham County Council, and 'Investing in Children' charity which includes the eXtreme Group of young people in County Durham with SEND. At the heart of this event is the fact that attendees will hear from a diverse range of voices and key stakeholders involved with this important topic, going away with increased knowledge and practical support.
You only need to look at the media to see that the UK is in the midst of a schools crisis that is particularly impacting autistic and neurodivergent pupils - this is a real world issue! Social scientists such as those in the Centre for Neurodiversity & Development can, and are, providing valuable insights into issues such as quality of school life, attendance difficulties and school distress, anxiety at school, experiences of inclusion to name a few.... but this work is not possible without collaborative working with key stakeholders such as young people, practitioners, educators, families.... to name a few. Relevant here is that all of the work presented by the Centre is ESRC funded.
The event includes several speakers and the unveiling of a commissioned piece of art from young people with SEND to represent their lived experiences of school (facilitated via Investing in Children).
Centre for Neurodiversity & Development, the Communication & Interaction Team at Durham County Council, and Investing in Children charity
All
Practitioners of a variety of types, local organisations and charities