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About the event
Educators have a really important role in ensuring neurodiverse students feel included, understood, and empowered in their ability to do well - both in school, higher education and in life!
But many of our education systems are not designed to support learning differences or may be targeted towards ‘neuromajority’ learning styles. So how can we be flexible and make positive change?
Please join us for a panel discussion exploring how we can integrate neurological differences into teaching practices. By appreciating that different students will process information in different ways, our classrooms can be designed to be more inclusive for all.
We will explore topics such as:
Creating a psychologically safe teaching environment
Diversifying and adjusting your teaching strategies
Managing bullying or challenging conversations amongst students
Exploring strengths and challenges of neurodifferences
Thinking about inclusive design in education
As this is a panel discussion, there will be lots of time for questions and interaction with you!
Please note that our events are not being recorded, to encourage our participants to speak openly about their personal stories and experiences.
Elizabeth Takyi | Event Chair
Neurodiversity Consultant
Elizabeth Takyi was diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Irlen Syndrome, in her adulthood. She was also diagnosed with Dyscalculia in 2019.
Elizabeth successfully run a charitable organisation for 6 and half years company based in London. (2016-2022)
After identifying a gap in support services, She took it upon herself to support adults with Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties, who want to start their own business, go back to further education or improve their employability skills as well as dyslexia and well-being.
Elizabeth tells her story the high and lows of living with Dyslexia, and how assisted technology changed her life for the better.
Kirstin Coughtrie
Founder of Gaia Learning: “the school for misfits” and co-founder of edtech platform Hybrid School. Ambassador for teaching Sustainable Development Goals.
Kirstin Coughtrie is an education accessibility advocate and expert in the intersection of education, technology, and humanity. She is the founder of Gaia Learning and co-founder of Hybrid School Ltd, which aims to disrupt education and make it more human, flexible and valuable.
Kirstin and her team provide personalised education on demand and support schools to create bespoke online learning programs for their neurodiverse and hard to reach students. They also offer services for parents and schools, including 1:1 tuition, flexible curriculum, and support for re-engaging students.
Jess Meredith
CEO of Differing Minds
Jess Meredith is a neurodiversity advocate, trainer and speaker and CEO of Differing Minds. She is a proud ADHDer, parent to wonderful neurodiverse children and is on a mission to create neuro-inclusive schools, organisations and society.
Jess' social enterprise, Differing Minds, delivers lessons to primary school children about neurodiversity via a first-of-its-kind video series. This improves the school environment for neurodivergent children, and creates the change needed in society by educating and empowering future generations.
As a staunch advocate for reframing the narrative around neurodiversity, Jess also uses her lived experience and the power of storytelling to deliver unforgettable talks.
Greta West
Speech Language Pathologist
Greta West is a late-diagnosed ADHDer speech Language pathologist with a hyperfixation on neurodivergence. She has a BA in Theatre from New York University and an MS in Speech Language Pathology from Portland State University. She supports neurodivergent teenagers in the development of self advocacy skills, executive function strategies, and navigating adolescence as an ND teen in an NT world. Her favorite part of the job is watching neurodivergent teens build community with each through understanding, validation, and authenticity.
Leahanna Tarry
Assistant Headteacher, ASC specialist teacher
As a parent of an autistic young person, I am passionately committed to increasing autism acceptance throughout schools. I created an Autism Ambassador schools which is currently being rolled out across secondary and primary schools in Norfolk and Suffolk. Last year we educated 603 secondary children in autism acceptance. This year it is being rolled out into primary schools and nurseries. The scheme hopes to create a more inclusive school community which helps to support its neurodiverse pupils with acceptance and understanding.
Darren Clark
CEO of Succeed with Dyslexia
Darren’s story is unique, despite a difficult childhood of being the victim of vandals, criminals and bullies and unable to complete any significant schooling due to undiagnosed dyslexia, Darren will share how he rose from this adversity and the stereotyping of the estate he grew up on to become a successful, serial entrepreneur who is known worldwide for his charitable work and business. Darren will also share how his journey of undiagnosed dyslexia (until the age of 37) meant that he had to work even harder within his career and business, how due to this he fought constant stress and bouts of depression, but determination and perseverance continues to drive him forward in his life. Darren’s story inspires, motivates and educates, and you cannot fail but be moved by his truly personal account of success through adversity. stress and bouts of depression, but determination and perseverance continues to drive him forward in his life. Darren’s story inspires, motivates and educates, and you cannot fail but be moved by his truly personal account of success through adversity.