The id+ Project University College Cork (UCC), in association with joinIN Inclusive Higher Education Network, invites you to the European State of the Art (ESOTA) Conference on

Inclusion in Action: Creative and Critical Insights from Programmes for Students with Intellectual Disability in Higher Education

4th and 5th December 2024, University College Cork, Ireland

1. Conference Goals

Inclusive education is a right for people with intellectual disability (Article 24 UNCRPD). However, they have historically been excluded as participants in higher education programmes on university and college campuses.

This conference provides an opportunity to reflect on what is happening in the field of inclusive education, with a particular focus on how inclusive education is experienced by students, educators and university professionals and translated into practice in teaching, learning and other university activities. It seeks to bring students with ID and the staff who work with them together to:

• Learn from students with ID in higher education programmes what they require to feel included, what supports their inclusion, and what creates barriers to it.
• Share research and experiences of programme design, curriculum, teaching practices, support models, training for staff and peer buddies, etc.
• Showcase examples of good practice and shareable resources for promoting inclusion for people with ID in university and college life.

2. Call for presentations/workshops/posters

We invite proposals (maximum 250 words) for presentations, workshops and posters that engage with, showcase, question and critique understandings, experiences, and practices of inclusive education for people with ID in higher education.

We particularly encourage submissions that privilege the voices of students with ID.  We are also very interested in showcasing any teaching, learning, and support resources that could be shared by students and educators in other universities. We invite people to share their insights using any medium they feel comfortable with.

3. Format of presentations/workshops/posters

Individual and group presentations, workshops, and posters are invited.

 Individual or Group Presentations

• Presentations will be for 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of discussion/Q&A.
• Presentations that include audio-visual material, creative practice, performance, etc. are welcome.
• Pre-recorded presentations are welcome if at least one of the presenters is present at the conference to participate in discussion/Q&A.
• Presentations will be grouped into panels as deemed appropriate.

Workshops

• Workshops should be inclusive and interactive, and run for 60 to 90 minutes.
• Workshop proposals should identify the goal of the workshop, the intended participants, the activity which participants will undertake, the number of participants that can be included, and the materials, room set up or types of spaces required for workshops.

Posters

• A1-sized posters are invited.
• They will be displayed in the conference venue and showcased during a scheduled poster reception, when presenters are available to answer questions and discuss their work.

4. Final things to note

• Proposals should be submitted online before 7th October 2024.
• Proposals that include people with ID will be prioritised/particularly welcome.
• All proposals, presentations, workshops and posters should strive to embrace the principles of Universal Design for Learning.
• The conference language is English and all proposals, presentations, posters and workshops should be in English.

 Conference registration will open around late September 2024