Using the ‘wordless’ Books Beyond Words, (BBW), has given a new lease of life to Katie Carpenter, (a young woman with Down’s syndrome) who runs her own Book Club every month for her friends , and now works as a volunteer Book Club Leader in a new 19-25 educational provision for young adults with Learning Disabilities.
Here her Father, Barry Carpenter, describes the impact on Katie’s life, in terms of her daily functioning, friendships and releasing her leadership capacity.
Fri 14 July 2017 09:00 – 15:30 BST The University Events Team, Birmingham City University
Teachers in particular know so little about this group of children who have transformed SEND registers in this 21st Century. With the World authority, Dr Susan Foster-Cohen speaking this is an essential Conference for SENCOs and special school staff.
There is shared concern among parents, schools, families and professionals about the vulnerability of girls on the Autistic Spectrum. What is emerging is that the presentation of autism in girls is different to boys; yet many of our diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and interventions in education and psychology, are based on research conducted with predominantly male populations. This conference brings together school leaders, teachers, health professionals, parents and carers with high profile speakers and experts, including:
Carrie Grant, TV vocal coach and campaigner who will give a parent’s perspective.
Francesca Happé, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Director of the MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London. Her research focuses on strengths and difficulties in autism spectrum conditions. She is co-founder (with Dr Rona Tutt OBE and Professor Barry Carpenter CBE) of the National Forum for Neuroscience and Special Education.
Conference fees
Early Bird rate for all registrations – £99 (Please note that Early Bird rates are applicable to the first 50 applications received.)
NAHT Member rate – £125
Non-member rate – £150
Parent/Carer rate – £125.
To mark World Autism Awareness Day, nasen has launched a new mini – guide highlighting the needs of girls with , or without a diagnosis of Autism. Written by Jo Egerton and Barry Carpenter, with contributions from the Girls with ASC Working Party, the guide is a free download to schools and services.
The guide aims to articulate the current needs and issues surrounding girls with Autism . They are an under-diagnosed group , whose needs often go unmet in schools , and whose mental health in the teenage years often rapidly deteriorates. The Working Party, chaired by Professor Carpenter, realised that they did not have a common language to express these concerns, and their goal in preparing this Guide has been to improve the foundation knowledge and understanding in schools and other child based settings.
As their work drew to a conclusion, they realised that there was so much more to do . The Group will continue its work under the auspices of the National Association of Headteachers, and specifically the National Forum for Neuroscience in Special Education (www.naht.org.uk ). This will include a major National Conference in London early in 2017; detail will be posted on this website.
The NAHT Special Schools, Specialist and Alternative Provision Conference 2016 theme is Promoting wellbeing for children, young people and staff (Thursday, 10th to Friday, 11th March, 2016) at The Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire) .The link to the full conference description http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/naht-events/conferences/send-conference-2016/)
