Dr Annemarie O'Dwyer’s Post

At least 1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. Neurodivergent folx are in every workplace and CE training but are disadvantaged by systems, processes, norms and institutions that were constructed to exclude their way of being. There are a growing number of provisions and resources in K-12 education reaching into higher ed for accommodating neurodivergent learners, but accommodation provides the minimum necessary. It’s not the same as inclusion. It's not the same as belonging. There is a conversation in workforce development right now about the precise skills, divergent thinking and innovative capabilities that reside in so many neurodivergent adults who are under or unemployed because of current systems and norms. There’s a discussion about what it might take to provide workspaces that eliminate barriers and open way to vast untapped potential. And we know for careers to grow, CE must play a role. Presently, there are no guidelines or standards for neuroinclusive PD or continuing education. International Accreditors for Continuing Education & Training (IACET) would like to change that. Following the success of the AI Symposium, IACET has recruited a group that I am thrilled to Chair assembling research on Neuroinclusion that will be presented to the CE/T community and we will gather for a Neuroinclusion Symposium in May 7, 2025 in Memphis. You're going to want to put that date on your calendar! Thank you Randy, Bradley and the IACET team for your leadership in this vital conversation. #inclusiveCE #neuroinclusion #neurodiversity #CE #training #professionaldevelopment

Dive into how we can better Understand and Support Neurodivergent Youth in this upcoming online professional development session hosted by Arts For All. When: Friday, April 26, 2024 at 4:30pm-6:00pm OR Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 3:30pm-5:00pm Where: Virtual This “Understanding and Supporting Neurodivergent Youth” training, presented by Empowered Pathways LLC, will provide an overview of neurodiversity, allowing participants to understand this complex concept in practical terms based on contemporary evidence. Specific strategies for supporting neurodivergent youth, including during times of dysregulation and hyperarousal, will be explained. The training will also include time for discussion, where participants can share their experiences and apply training principles to real life case examples. Participants will also receive a list of resources and tools to support the implementation of neurodiversity-affirming strategies. For more information & to register for the 4/26 session: https://lnkd.in/eru2_UaU For more information & to register for the 5/4 session: https://lnkd.in/eAyqTAqC Please note that there is limited availability. First come, first serve #artsforallnyc #arts #education #teachingartist #selfconfidence #selfexpression #teamwork #resilience #creativity

Good morning, all. As mentioned previously my Co-Directors at Neurodiversity in Education CIC and I will be holding our conference next week and I am exited to share with you the final schedule for the upcoming conference which begins on Monday October 30th and ends on Friday October 4th. We have arranged some fantastic sessions and have some really great speakers, whom you can see on the conference schedule on our website https://lnkd.in/e-J4_BQr. I will be participating in sessions and will host the two sessions below; Weds 2nd Oct - Artificial intelligence in educational contexts with Frances Akinde Thur 3rd Oct - Neurodivergence and Ethnicity - Panel discussion (when all names are confirmed I will share them). The first half of the week will focus on the neurodivergent educator workforce. It will cover practical guidance for educational employers on inclusive policy and practice, as well as shared experiences from neurodivergent educators. The second half of the week will be dedicated to inclusive teaching and learning, the lived experiences of neurodivergent learners, intersections, and much more. We will also be updating our website, https://lnkd.in/eazuFsZF, daily with the latest information on conference sessions and how you can join us for each session. This has been a monumental effort among the four directors of NiE CIC. As a grassroots-organised conference, we have managed every step of the conference while continuing with our day jobs. What has motivated us is the belief in the necessity of a conference that considers both neurodivergent learners and the neurodivergent teaching workforce. We couldn't wait any longer for the educational sector departments, institutions, and organisations to step up and take action. It is such an honour to work alongside my fellow directors, Rachel Öner FSET QTLS ATS CTeach CMALT, Dr Annemarie O'Dwyer and NiE CIC co-director and founder Simon Preston BSc. MBA FCMI Many thanks to all those that have help to make this happen; panelists, webinar speakers, and those who agreed to be interviewed for the conference. See you all at the conference!!

In our latest article, we delve into the world of neurodiversity in early years education, where educators like Rob Fox are not just teaching - they are revolutionising how we understand and embrace diverse minds. 🧠🌈 Discover how embracing neurodiversity enriches our educational systems, offering fresh perspectives and teaching methods that cater to all children. Dive into our discussion on the challenges, breakthroughs, and the bright future ahead for inclusive education. 👉 Read more about the transformative impact of neurodivergent educators and how we can all contribute to a more inclusive educational landscape: https://buff.ly/3w2ihWm #Neurodiversity #EarlyYearsEducation #InclusiveEducation #Teaching

🌟 Exciting News from Neurodiversity in Education CIC! 🌟 We are thrilled to announce the launch of our ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) series, kicking off today! Over the next few weeks, we will be resharing each of our insightful sessions from Neurodiversity in Education Week usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. We invite you to dive into these sessions, use these for internal CPD discussions and, if you feel comfortable, share your own insights and thoughts in the comments section. You are also very welcome to get in touch with us. Your contribution can help foster rich discussions and debates on these important topics! Remember, our slogan emphasises the strength hidden within the system. By coming together, we can unlock this strength and create a positive impact for all, especially for children and young people. Let's unite and amplify the conversation around neurodiversity in education. Together, we can make a difference! 💙✨ #Neurodiversity #Education #Inclusion #Unity #StrengthInDiversity #NeurodiversityInEducationWeek

Final Session is this Saturday! Dive into how we can better Understand and Support Neurodivergent Youth in this upcoming online professional development session hosted by Arts For All. When: Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 3:30pm-5:00pm Where: Virtual This “Understanding and Supporting Neurodivergent Youth” training, presented by Empowered Pathways LLC, will provide an overview of neurodiversity, allowing participants to understand this complex concept in practical terms based on contemporary evidence. Specific strategies for supporting neurodivergent youth, including during times of dysregulation and hyperarousal, will be explained. The training will also include time for discussion, where participants can share their experiences and apply training principles to real life case examples. Participants will also receive a list of resources and tools to support the implementation of neurodiversity-affirming strategies. For more information & to register for the 5/4 session: https://lnkd.in/eAyqTAqC Please note that there is limited availability. First come, first serve. #artsforallnyc #arts #education #teachingartist #selfconfidence #selfexpression #teamwork #resilience #creativity

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our webinar on Neurodiversity and Neuroinclusion in Education in collaboration with Prof. Amanda Kirby this morning! It was great to see so many familiar names and lots of new ones too! If you have any questions about Clear Links support offering, getting set up for screenings or you would just like a bit more information, please do get in touch ☺️ #neurodiversitycelebrationweek

When I finished school, all I can remember was feeling bruised and battered. I remember thinking 🤔 in my head that thank god that was over and I never wanted to learn ever again. The thing is, education doesn’t need to be this way. It can be fun, interesting, and enjoyable. But yet we are still seeing students coming out like the people in this picture. At Neurodiversity Academy, this is what we are going to change. We want to find the learning organizations that are fun, interesting, and enjoyable, especially for neurodivergent people. By finding these organizations and referring neurodivergent students to them, we are hoping they will come out as happy if not more enthusiastic than when they started their education journey. #neurodivergent #highereducation #students #mentalhealth

Today marks the start of neurodiversity celebration week. Here is a link to a short post i have written to discuss the need for more neurodiverse role models in Higher Education, which i hope some of you in HE may find a useful read to kickstart the week https://lnkd.in/eUvg7ywZ

Greetings from the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) SIG 15 Conference! EARLI SIG 15 is an international scientific research interest group that brings together early career and established researchers and other stakeholders from across the globe interested in the education and inclusion of individuals with special educational needs (SEN) of all ages. Through scientific discussions, collaboration, and exchanging research outcomes, SIG15 aims to further the understanding of those with SEN and to improve learning, instruction in a broad range of settings, and inclusion for individuals with SEN so that they may realize their full potential in society. From 2-4 September the EARLI SIG15 met in Valencia, Spain, with the appealing theme of ‘Neurodiversity in Education: Research and Practice’. This conference enabled researchers and practitioners to reflect robustly and collaboratively on the neurodiversity perspective adopted in education by discussing questions such as: Is the neurodiversity perspective a useful epistemological framework?; What is the purpose of depathologizing neurodivergence?; Is this new perspective applicable to all individuals within the neurodiverse spectrum in education? "Neurodivergence" is a non-medical term that describes individuals whose brain develops or works differently from what is considered “neurotypical”. This term emphasizes the fact that the human brain has natural variations in the way it processes information. This approach recognizes conditions such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD, or deafness as facets of human neurodiversity. Hence, through the neurodivergent lens, the educational approach towards students with these conditions, both in research and practice, emphasizes their strengths rather than their limitations. I'm thankful for this great opportunity to engage in these discussions and others, network with researchers and practitioners from around the globe, and present the first study of my PhD work, which explores the role of self-determination (competence, autonomy, relatedness) in enhancing neurodivergent higher education students’ study engagement! #European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) #neurodiversity #inclusivehighereducation