Category: Forthcoming Events

Accessibility 2.0


AbilityNet are holding a day conference on Friday 25th April examining issues relating to web accessibility and Web 2.0. 

According to AbilityNet (and they really do hold the keys on this one), Accessibility 2.0: A Million Flowers Bloom is the first ever conference focussing on web accessibility in a Web 2.0 world. Their invited experts include representatives from Google, the BBC and the RNIB amongst others, and will look at practical solutions to the Web 2.0 accessibility problems, showing cutting edge techniques and offering realistic solutions. The day will be a very practical day. Allegedly, delegates will come away knowing what to do, and what to focus on to ensure access to all users. 

If AbilityNet can deliver on this promise, I’ll be well pleased.  As cited in these pages (and reflected in ongoing discussions Listservs in UK education and disability), the super-evolution of web 2.0 services (issues of perpetual beta, and user-created content in particular) have made accessibility audits difficult or impractical for many institutions and individuals seeking to adopt new social technologies. 

Registration closes on April 23rd, for those wishing to attend.  I imagine the conference will be well connected, hopefully resulting in podcasts, vodcasts, blogging etc for all who can’t make it.  I’ll be attending and will report back here.

Designing for Accessibility


On Tuesday March 4th I’ll be delivering a Guest Lecture on ‘Designing for Accessibility’ for the MM4HCI Human-Computer Systems module for 3rd/4th year Undergraduate and MSc students from Computer Science and Engineering here at Nottingham University.  I’ll be discussing accessibility and usability, legal requirements and guidelines, examples of good and bad practice as well as some case studies.  I’ll also be talking about issues of power in virtual spaces, with particular reference to the social dimensions of disability online. If you’re attending this lecture and want more information about the area and my sources drop me a line.

‘Inclusive Practice: Rhetoric or Reality?’


On the 7th February 2008 I attended a free half day seminar backed by the HEA at Sheffield Hallam University.  On the subject of ‘Inclusive Practice: Rhetoric or Reality?’ this was the first time I’ve had the chance to hear Professor Dan Goodley, the keynote speaker.  Goodley focused specifically on emancipatory pedagogies and the limits of mainstream notions of ‘inclusion’.  This was a healthy reminder to look again at the writing of Frantz Fanton and Paulo Freire and consider the meaning of Inclusion, a word that has contrary implications.  Future events in this series take place around the UK and are cited on the HEA website. The series appears to offer a useful way in to strands of disability research in Higher Education that are otherwise difficult to bring together.

Going Solo: Starting Out as a Freelance Researcher


I’ve been invited to give the following talk at the Graduate School on the 15th of May 2008 at 2pm.  The Graduate Schools own blurb follows.  If you’re interested in attending and want to reserve a place please send an email to graduate-school@nottingham.ac.uk.

"Going Solo – Starting Out as a Freelance Researcher".

This talk given by Sarah Lewthwaite, a PhD Researcher in the School of Education will give you the opportunity to hear about her experience of establishing herself in a freelance research role during her PhD. The session will provide insights into practical issues such as how much to charge, realistic project planning and working with different clients. The presentation will be of interest to all research students especially those who might be thinking of undertaking some independent research work and those interested in self employment now or in the future.

Web 2.0 technologies for teaching and learning


I’ve been invited along to a Becta (British Education and Communications Technology Agency ) seminar on Web 2 technologies for teaching and learning in London on March 20th 2008.  Discussion will be focusing on Becta’s own research with a view to informing policy and practise. This appears to be a ‘closed’ session, (AV capture notwithstanding) but I’ll report on these pages over the following week in late March.

2nd Annual Conference – Nottingham Research Network


I will be presenting on "The Networked Student: online experiences of disability in and around higher education" at the Nottingham Research Network’s 2nd Annual conference "Special Educational Needs, Social and Educational Inclusion, Health and Disabilities" on Tuesday 8th January. The conference, I believe, is fully booked. However, more information and further links are available here.

Disability and HE seminar in Loughborough


I’ve just had word of an International Day of Disabled Persons Event at Loughborough University via the DIS-forum mailing list.

Professor Colin Barnes (Leeds University) will be presenting at the "Disability in Higher Education – A Challenge" seminar on Wednesday 28th November 2007 from 1.00 – 3.00 p.m.  Colin is a big name inside and outside disability studies. He is disability activist, writer and researcher with an international reputation in the field of disability studies and disability research. 

Importantly this event has free admission and is open to staff, students and the public.  To book a place or more information contact: Sheralyn Bland, Personnel and Equalities Assistant by emailing S.Bland@lboro.ac.uk.

Sheffield Hallam Disability Research Forum


I will be presenting my research at the Disability Research Forum at Sheffield Hallam University on Tuesday 26th February 2008.  My working title for this session is "Disability, the Academic and Identity 2.0: The experiences of disabled students online".  More information will follow early next year.

SEN Collaborative Research Network


This is local news for local people!  The second annual Nottingham Research Network conference has been scheduled for Tuesday 8th January, 2008 from 9am-4pm at the School of Education (Dearing Building) on Jubilee Campus, Nottingham University.  I found last years conference really useful.  It is a great place to meet people working in every area of Special Educational Needs in the City of Nottingham and to get a better understanding of what’s actually happening in the different fields associated with SEN. In the words of the organisers: The main purpose of the Nottingham Research Network is to enhance the well being of people with additional support needs and the skills and confidence of their carers and other professionals through:

  • Promoting collaborative research in this area
  • Connecting people with shared research interests in children, young people and adults with additional support needs
  • Optimising the use of existing resources
  • Attracting resources and enhancing networks and collaboration
  • Identifying areas for development and sharing insights in order to assess the impact and effectiveness of activities
  • Ensuring greater harmony and mutual benefit between research agendas and local needs/priorities
  • Changing practice through theory and theory through practice

If you want to register – please note the deadline is pressing – click on this link: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/services/education_and_learning/nttm-research-network.htm

If you are unable to attend, but want to join the network, you can also apply for access to the networks website and submit your own areas of interest through this link.

Research Seminar Poster Session


The Post Graduate research seminars are continuing in the Dearing Building at the University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus.  These are students led, with a view to sharing PhD and MA expertees in Education.  The next session is scheduled for Friday 26th October, 11-1pm in B37.  This will be focussing on Poster Presentations from Education.  We are inviting any students in Education to come to find out more about posters, or bring posters they themselves have presented.  The focus will be very much on applied and practical advice and we have invited staff who have judged Graduate School competitions to give us their view on what makes a successful poster, and the nature of a poster competition from a judges perspective.

No booking neccessary.  Tea and Coffe available.  I’ll be talking about accessible posters and re-hanging "Mapping the experiences of disabled students who use Computer Mediated Communication in Higher Education" which recieved 1st prize at the Nordic Network on Disability Research conference.  Download PDF Poster.  Posters from the recent ALT-C and BERA conferences are confirmed and will also be discussed.