education as a catalyst for the social inclusion of people with learning disabilities

Hosted by the University of Derby and University of Southampton, this symposium explores current data and debate about the role that education has in improving social inclusion for people with learning disabilities throughout the life-course. It draws on a Special Issue of the British Journal of Learning Disabilities dedicated to this theme.

The session included:

a welcome by Prof Deborah Robinson (University of Derby) and an introduction by the Chief Editor of the British Journal of Learning Disabilities Prof. Melanie Nind (University of Southampton);

Closing reflections by Dr Geraldine Leader, whose ground-breaking conceptualisation of social inclusion has underpinned much of the data and debate in this Special Issue (see Simplican, Leader, Kosciulek and Leahy’s (2015) paper on social inclusion).

Symposium Agenda

14:00 Session opening and welcome by Deborah Robinson (University of Derby)

14:05 Introduction by the Chief Editor of the British Journal of Learning Disabilities Melanie Nind (University of Southampton)

14:10- 14:35

Part 1

Mhairi Beaton, Geraldene Codina and Julie Wharton (England). Decommissioning normal: COVID-19 as a disruptor of school norms for young people with learning disabilities

John Paul Donnelly (Scotland). In response to Beaton, Codina and Wharton.

Michelle Bonati (USA) and Elga Andriana (Indonesia). Amplifying children’s voices with photovoice: emerging inclusive practices in Indonesia

Anders Gustavsson, Christian Wendelborg and Jan Tøssebro (Sweden). Educated for welfare services: the hidden curriculum of upper secondary school for students with intellectual disabilities.

Natasha Spassiani (Scotland), Maria Clince, and Noel Ó Murchadha (Ireland). “It will make more people feel included if they can talk to them in their first language”: The experience of university students with an intellectual disability engaging in a formal Irish Sign Language Course

14:35 – 14:45pm: Questions, answers and discussion Chaired by Vasilis Strogilos

14:45-15:10

Part 2

Jill Hanson, Deborah Robinson and Geraldene Codina (England). Widening Horizons: Supported internships as a vehicle for broadening and deepening the social inclusion of people with learning disabilities

Hannah Blake, Jill Hanson and Lewis Clark (England). The importance of inclusive alumni networks to support people with learning disabilities to transition from school into adulthood

Geraldine Scanlon and Alison Doyle (Ireland). Transition Stories: Voices of school leavers with Intellectual Disabilities

Anne-Marie Martin, Sile Divane, Sandra Twomey, Lucia O’Neill, Joseph McCarthy, Craoline Egan, Caroline Dalto and Maria Caples (Ireland). Don’t Mention the Diet! A health promotion initiative to support healthy diet and lifestyle decision-making by people with intellectual disability

15:10 – 15:20pm: Questions, answers and discussion Chaired by Geraldene Codina

15:20- 15:35pm: Closing reflections from Stacy Clifford Simplican and Geraldine Leader

15:35: Session vote of thanks and close by Melanie Nind