International conference at Exeter's WESC
WESC Foundation (WESC) is pleased to announce their eighth Annual International Conference will be held on 4th May 2017 at their campus on Topsham road. This year the theme of the conference is ‘transitioning to adulthood for young people with visual impairment’, which will be discussed by a range of experts, and includes new research from the University of Birmingham.
WESC Foundation – The Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment, is a school and college for young people and adults with a visual impairment, including complex needs. The charity’s aim is to provide education and care for young people and adults with visual impairment in their transition through school, college and beyond.
According to a recent report from the Council for Disabled Children the number of disabled school children with complex needs has increased by 50% since 2004, from 49,300 to 73,000, and the number of children with complex needs in mainstream schools has also risen over the same period. The conference will look at some of the transition issues for young people with a visual impairment as they progress through school, college, university, work and beyond.
This year’s conference speakers bring their expert knowledge and discuss a variety of topics including:
• André Imich, SEN and Disability Professional Adviser, Department for Education, will be delivering a presentation focusing on The Children and Families Act 2014. The presentation will discuss the progress on implementation and the importance of the changes that the government has made to the system for supporting children and young people with special educational needs. Andre will also address how far these changes have been embedded and the important priorities for the future.
• Peter White, BBC’s Disability Affairs Correspondent, In Touch BBC Radio 4 will be giving his own personal story about living and working with a visual impairment and discussing some of the issues regarding why it’s become harder to make the transition from school to work…and what should be done about it! Peter White has presented In Touch, Radio 4’s programme for visually impaired listeners since 1974, as well as working on a range of other Radio programmes including Pick of the Week, You and Yours, and a feature called Blind Man on the Rampage. In addition to radio, he has worked on television, and written an autobiography, See it My Way.
• Professor Graeme Douglas/Rachel Hewett, Department of Disability Inclusion and Special Needs, University of Birmingham, are presenting the results on their research from a longitudinal study of transitions experienced by approximately 80 young people, with visual impairment, from school through to adulthood. The research focuses on the resources available to visually impaired young people and also policies and legislation. It looks at the balance between these different resources and how each person navigates them differently and how the balance, depending on what stage the young person is at, changes over time. Graeme and Rachel will illustrate these points by focussing upon experiences at school and university in particular, as well as describing some of the materials and guidance developed from the research.
• Claire Dorer, Chief Executive, National Association of Independent Schools & Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS), discusses The Children and Families Act 2014 giving statutory support for young people with SEND until the age of 25, however, in practice, many young people have their Education Health and Care Plans ceased at age 18. There are a variety of pathways from age 18, each with its own implication for young people, providers and funders. Claire will explore some of these options and how they can support or block young people.
WESC Foundation will welcome local authority commissioners, SEN and healthcare professionals with a particular interest in visual impairment and parents and carers to the conference with the aim of increasing their knowledge about the transition process as well as keeping up-to-date with latest developments in the field of visual impairment.
Claire Dorer, Chief Executive, NASS said: “A great school experience needs a great transition experience to launch young people into the next stage in their lives. I’m delighted to join WESC in thinking about how to give young people the best start in their adult lives.”
Tracy de Bernhardt Dunkin, Principal & Chief Executive at WESC Foundation says: “WESC’s Annual International Conference always provides an excellent opportunity for bringing together visual impairment knowledge from specialist speakers to those directly and indirectly impacted or affected by visual impairment. We look forward to welcoming our expert speakers.”
The Conference held on Thursday 4th May 2017 and will run from 9.30am until 4.45pm. Anyone wishing to attend the conference or find out further information about WESC Foundation should contact Katy Gaulton, Marketing, Communications and PR Manager, kgaulton@wescfoundation.co.uk, 01392 454235, or visit www.wescfoundation.ac.uk.
