Health and Social Care students host student-led conference on learning disabilities

Each year, students from our undergraduate and postgraduate health and social care programmes, volunteer their time and experience to organise the conference, supported by their lecturers throughout the process.

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This year, the students chose the theme, Learning Disabilities: Connect and Reflect.

With this in mind, the students recognised that the conference should not be created without the input of individuals with learning disabilities. After an initial meeting, the conference was co-created with Busydays Daycare, an adult day service for people with learning disabilities, based in Lincoln.

On the day of the conference, BGU welcomed students from a variety of courses, as well as local professionals, and over thirty people from Busydays Daycare.

The conference involved a variety of activities and presentations. In collaboration with attending professionals, the students learnt how to have conversations with new people who need differing levels of support, or perhaps do not use spoken words to communicate.

One of the highlights of the event was a shared performance of ‘This is me’ using Makaton, by both BGU students and Busydays Daycare.

Lorena Hall, Health and Social Care Lecturer, commented on the day: “The atmosphere was vibrant all day and the format was relaxed and inclusive.

“This helped everyone see that conferences can and should be accessible. It is important for them to not be a stream of long presentations; they need to be informative but interactive, engaging and most importantly inclusive.

“The programme of the day was even created in easy read – which worked well for everyone, with and without learning disabilities.”

Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to take part in pebble painting, join an inclusive dance session led by JKGD dance therapy, and enjoy a delicious lunch provided by Quad Café.

Lorena continued: “The ethos behind this conference was cocreation with the people it is about. We can study learning disability but if we are not living the life of a person with a learning disability, how can we truly understand how life may be for that person.

“The conference would not have happened without the students. It was their conference and the commitment shown from those involved was tenfold.

“We are very proud of them all and all they achieved!”

To find out more about Health and Social Care at BGU, please click here!

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