International Conference on ‘Neurodiversity: A Paradigm Shift In Higher Education & Employment.
The UCD Neurodiversity Project, a sub-committee of the CHAS EDI committee, hosted the conference which took place virtually over two days on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th of December.
The conference was co-hosted by NUI Maynooth, Stanford University, Untapped Holdings and ADHD Ireland.
Recordings of the sessions can now be accessed via the schedule listed below.
This conference aims to start a strength-based conversation about neurodiversity in third-level institutions and amongst employers.
The core objectives were to
• Bring interested people together to share knowledge and exchange ideas.
• Provide a platform for interested people to listen to and learn from each other.
• Provide a safe and inclusive space for people to explore the area of neurodiversity from a strength-based perspective.
Conference organisers operated an inclusive approach to speaker inclusion and sought to involve all persons interested in presenting. This conference is a first step in starting this conversation and we propose to continue the conversation through follow-up events and hope that more interested people will come on board to share their knowledge and expertise.
Session One : Neurodiversity
Chair : Professor Fiona McNicholas, University College Dublin
Thursday 3rd December 0905 - 0950
Keynote : Neurodiversity: current perspectives
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, University of Cambridge
Thursday 3rd December 0950 - 1035
Thursday 3rd December 1035 - 1055
The Value of Sharing Resources
Andrew Eddy, Neurodiversity Hub
Thursday 3rd December 1105 - 1145
Neuroscience and Neurodiversity
Dr Duncan Astle, University of Cambridge
Thursday 3rd December 1145 - 1215
Dr Damien Milton, University of Kent
Thursday 3rd December 1230 - 1300
NDGiFTS : Building a Movement and Community
Tiffany Jameson, Grit and Flow
Thursday 3rd December 1300 - 1330
Professor Sonya Girdler, PhD, Curtin University, Perth
Session 2 : Universities
Chair: Professor Fiona McNicholas, University College Dublin
Thursday, 3rd December 1405-1420
UCD – Supporting Diverse Students in a University for All
Dr Lisa Padden and Ms Julie Tonge, University College Dublin
Thursday 3rd December 1420 -1445
Personal Experience and Ethnography
Elizabeth Radulski, La Trobe University, Australia
Thursday 3rd December 1445 - 1530
Keynote : Recognising and Supporting Staff and Students
Professor Sara Rankin, Imperial College, London
Thursday 3rd December 1530 - 1550
Supporting Postgraduate Art and Design Students with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia
Qona Rankin, Royal College of Art, London
Thursday 3rd December 1600 -1620
Creating and Autism Friendly Campus
Dr Mary Rose Sweeney, Dublin City University
Thursday 3rd December 1620 - 1650
Equity or Advantage ? Exam Access Arrangements and University Students with SpLD
Helen Duncan, University of Cambridge
Thursday 3rd December 1650 -1720
The Spectrum Support Programme in RIT
Laurie Ackles, Rochester Institute of Technology
Thursday 3rd December 1720 - 1820
The Stanford Neurodiversity Project
Professor Lawrence Fung and Christy Matta, Stanford University
Thursday 3rd December 1820 - 1900
Panel Discussion, moderated by Ken Kilbride ADHD Ireland.
Session Three : Learning and Inclusive Environments : Education and the Workplace.
Chair: Dr Gemma Irvine, University of Maynooth.
Friday 4th December 0905-0950
Keynote: Mental Health
Dr Simon Bury, La Trobe University, Australia
Friday 4th December 0950 - 1025
‘Be Your Best’ Life Skills Training
Andrew Eddy and Peter Matthews, Neurodiversity Hub
Friday 4th December 1025-1045
Irene Talento, University of Rome
Friday 4th December 1100 - 1130
Assistive Technology in Education
Conor Hartigan, University of Limerick
Friday 4th December 1130 - 1150
A Personal Experience of Technology
Hari Srinivasan, University of California, Berkeley
Session Four : Employment and Business
Chair: Dr Colman Noctor, University College Dublin
Friday 4th December 1230-1330
Stanford Panel Discussion, led by Professor Lawrence Fung
Friday 4th December 1330 - 1430
Xialene Chang, Tamara Stern, Lee Crocker, Jan Coplan, Jeanette Landin, Vanessa Castaneda Gill, Harvard, Landmark College, Social Cipher
Friday 4th December 1430 - 1510
Keynote : Building a More Neurodiversity-Inclusive Workplace
Professor Susanne Bruyere, Cornell University
Friday 4th December 1510 -1545
Intersectional Inclusion in the Workplace
Dr Nancy Doyle, Uzma Waseem, Birkbeck College and Genius Within
Friday 4th December 1600 - 1615
European Paradigm Shift for Employers
Hans van de Velde, European Brains at Work
Friday 4th December 1615 -1655
Panel: Integrate ‘Employer Connect’ Programme
Marcia Scheiner, Jose Velasco, Lee Corless, Kate Copeman
Friday 4th December 1705 - 1730
Doug Meeker, 3R Behavioral Solutions, Virginia
Friday 4th December 1730 - 1830
Panel: The Future of Assistive Technology in Neurodiversity, moderated by Dan Feshbach, Blue Umbrella