ExChange Wales Learning Disabilities Conference
OCTOBER 2024
This conference series aims to focus on learning disability, highlighting research and innovative work being undertaken in this field. The title ‘Being Seen, Heard and Valued’ was chosen to recognise and illuminate the developments in this area, especially the important work being undertaken both with and by those with learning disabilities. The conference series spans children and adults and hopes to reflect joy in this work, and celebrate achievements.
Content Menu:
Introduction
Zoe Richards,
Chief Executive of Learning Disability Wales
Tuesday 1st October, 1pm
Webinars:
Babies in care proceedings – what do we know about parents with learning disabilities or difficulties?
Speaker: Katy Burch, Assistant Director at the Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University.
Tuesday 8th October, 1-2pm
Ageing with learning disabilities
Speaker: Sara Ryan, Manchester Metropolitan University
Wednesday 9th October, 1-2pm
“What About Me? ‘People with learning disabilities living on the edges of support: what is it like, and what needs to change?'”
Speaker: Dr Edmund Coleman-Fountain, University of York.
Monday 14th October, 1-2pm
The voice of young people with learning disabilities and autism in supported employment: Engage to Change and building partnerships to promote what works.
Speaker: Andrea Meek & Dr. Elisa Vigna, National Centre for Mental Health at Cardiff University & Gerraint Jones-Griffiths, Learning Disability Wales/ Honorary Associate at Cardiff University.
Monday 21st October, 1-2pm
Video Presentations:
Social Work and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Speaker: Rebecca Govan,
Doctoral Researcher, Birmingham City University
Thursday 17th October, 1pm
Podcasts:
Maggie’s club – UCAN
Maggies Club is a once-a-month event, full of fun, drama, games, sound workshops and arts and crafts. This very special workshop is for children and young people with vision impairments and additional disabilities.
Coming soon
Resources:
Hijinx theatre
Hijinx is one of Europe’s leading inclusive theatre companies, creating outstanding performances with learning disabled and/or autistic artists on stage and on screen, for Wales and for the world.
Hijinx knows the difference arts and theatre can have on people’s health and wellbeing. Their recent Impact Report demonstrates the social economic value they have on the arts, exploring the life changing stories of the people they work with.
Happiness is inclusive
Three short films by learning disabled and/or autistic creatives about who, what and where makes them happy.
Housemates
It began when Alan, a young man born with Down’s syndrome, crashed into the life of Cardiff University student Jim. Alan had lived as a resident in Ely Hospital since childhood; all he wanted was to live in a house and be in a band. Jim wanted to make a difference in the world, but didn’t know how. Together with their friends, they embarked on an experiment that transformed how things were done, how people were treated and who got to tell you how to live. This was the beginning of the end of institutionalized care and the birth of Supported Living.
Performed by a cast of neurodivergent and neurotypical actor-musicians, Housemates packs a punch and touches the heart.
Written by Tim Green.
Directed by Joe Murphy and Ben Pettitt-Wade.
Housemates is supported by funding from Arts Council of Wales.
Housemates Trailer
Housemates Micro-documentary
‘Getting our voices heard’ – Seminar
Dr Lorna Montgomery, Queens University Belfast
MAGGIE’S CLUB – Event
UCAN Productions
My Life My Choice – The right to a relationship – Seminar
Victoria Mason-Angelow, Lisa Davidson, Pam Bebbington, Jackie Scarrott, Dawn Wiltshire & Jessie Tilling, National Development Team for Inclusion (NTDi) & My Life My Choice (MLMC)
Co-production and Asset Based approaches – Podcast
Sian Davies, Mencap Cymru
Mark John Williams, Disability Transformation
Nicholas, expert by experience
Watch previous webinars from ExChange here:
