INTRODUCTION | INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023

 

Middletown Centre for Autism will present its fifth international conference in-person and online at ICC Belfast on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th May 2023.

Venue: ICC Belfast, 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast BT1 3WH

The conference will bring together the following expert speakers (for full biographies, click here):

 

Professor Sue Fletcher-Watson

A Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Sue's research projects focus on applying methods from psychology to questions with clinical, educational, and societal impact.

Jacquelyn Fede, PhD and Amy Laurent, PhD

Jac is a super fun, super goofy and SUPER DUPER nerdy Autistic Advocate and the co-founder of Autism Level UP! Jac is a physical activity junky and continues to meet its intense sensory needs by seeking high impact and highly resistant movements.

Amy is an Occupational Therapist, co-author of the SCERTS model (a developmental framework for supporting Autistic people), and the co-founder of Autism Level UP!

Peter Vermeulen, PhD

Peter has a PhD in Psychology and Clinical Educational Sciences, and more than 35 years of experience in the field of autism. Founder of “Autism in Context”, where autism is understood in context. Peter is an internationally respected lecturer/trainer and he presents all over the world. 

Dr Alyssa M. Alcorn

Alyssa is the Research and Impact Lead for the Learning About Neurodiversity at School (LEANS) project, based at the University of Edinburgh's Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre. She is an interdisciplinary researcher with extensive experience on participatory projects, and a background in psychology, education, human-computer interaction, and design.

Dr Carly Jones MBE

Dr Carly Jones MBE is an autistic woman and campaigner for the rights of autistic women and girls.

Dr Helen Lynch

Helen is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Ireland, and co-convenor of the Children and Young Peoples Research Cluster of the UCC Institute for Social Sciences in the Twenty First Century.  

Dr Rachel Ferguson

A Researcher at Middletown Centre for Autism, Rachel’s most recent research has been presented at conferences such as the International Society for Autism Research and the Geneva Centre for Autism. 

Cat Hughes, PhD

Cat is a Research Officer at Middletown Centre for Autism. She previously worked as Research Communications Manager with UK autism research charity, Autistica where she supported researchers and community members to communicate about research and lived experience.

 

Middletown Centre for Autism was established in 2007 by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland and the Department of Education, Ireland. The aim of the Centre is to promote best practice in the education of children and young people with autism throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Centre provides training, research, learning support and assessment and advice to parents, family members and educational professionals.

 

 

EVENT PROGRAMME

ICC Belfast

 

DAY ONE |  Friday 19 May 2023

 

08.00  Registration opens 

09.00  Welcome and introduction - CEO, Middletown Centre for Autism

09.30  Neurodiversity Affirmative Practice in Education & Healthcare - Sue Fletcher-Watson

10.30  Break

10.50  Two-Way Street and Cross Cultural Understanding: Practical pathways - Jacquelyn Fede and Amy Laurent

           (online presentation)

11.50  Delegates move to seminars

12.00  Seminar sessions

           ONE - Autism Friendliness: The Key Ingredients - Peter Vermeulen

           TWO - About Neurodiversity at School (LEANS) Project - Alyssa M Acorn

           THREE - Inclusive Spaces: Searching for Play Value for Autistic Children - Helen Lynch

           FOUR - Middletown Centre for Autism NCSE Research - Cat Hughes and Rachel Ferguson

13.00  Break for Lunch

13.45  Middletown Centre for Autism's work and resources:  this session focuses on The Centre's work with schools  

14.15  Autism and The Predictive Mind - Peter Vermeulen

15.15  Comfort break

15.30  Panel discussion: Innovations in Education - facilitated by Jill McCanney

16.30  Question and answer session

17.00  Close

 

All delegates will also have the opportunity to attend an evening event, a screening of film Echo's Bones. 

 

17.30  Introduction by Director, Sarah Browne

17.45  Screening of Echo's Bones

18.15  Question and answer session with the team 

18.45  Close

 

————————————————————————————

 

DAY TWO |  Saturday 20 May 2023

 

08.00  Registration opens

09.00  Welcome and introduction - CEO, Middletown Centre for Autism

09.30  From Neurodiversity to Neuroharmony: Autism and Happiness - Peter Vermeulen

10.30  Break

10.50  Supporting Neurodivergent Children and their Families - Sue Fletcher-Watson

11.50  Delegates move to seminars

12.00  Seminar sessions 

           ONE - Person in Context Session - Jacquelyn Fede (online presentation)

           TWO - 25 Years of Psychoeducation In Autism: From “I Am Special” To H.A.P.P.Y. - Peter Vermeulen

           THREE - Autistic Women and Girls: Wellbeing and Being Well - Carly Jones

13.00  Break for Lunch

13.45  Middletown Centre for Autism's work and resources: this session focuses on The Centre's work with families

14.15  Autistic Perspectives on ‘Level Up’ - Jacquelyn Fede (online presentation)

15.15  Comfort break

15.30  Panel discussion: Inclusive Communities - facilitiated by Adam Harris

16.30  Question and answer session 

17.00  Closing remarks

 

 

Please note all timings are approximate.

 

 

 

Application Process

To apply for a place at the Middletown Centre for Autism International Conference 2023, please take a few moments to complete the registration fields below.

If you have any difficulty registering online, please contact a member of our events team by emailing info@event-ful.co.uk

 

Delegate Details


Where do you live?


Other - please confirm country and region


Please indicate if you are: (Please select the option(s) that most closely describes your situation).


You have selected the 'other' category. Please tell us a little more about your interest in this conference.


Please outline your field of work within the education sector


Other - please provide details


 

 

Please indicate your area of work within health


Please provide details


You have indicated you are a private practitioner, please confirm your field of work


Other - Please provide details below


Please confirm your field of work within the voluntary sector


If you are a student on one of the Centre’s graduate courses please enter the code that you have been given below. If not applicable, please press NEXT to progress.


 

Delegate Packages

There is the option to attend the conference in person at ICC Belfast or to view the event online. Please select your preference below. 

Please note there is limited capacity within the venue. Priority will be given to autistic people, parents of an autistic child or young person, teachers and educational professionals based in the UK and Ireland. 

If an application for an in-person place is unsuccessful, it will automatically be considered for an online delegate place.

This package is for those attending the ICC Belfast in person. It includes:

    • Admission to each day of the conference including a choice of seminar sessions, exhibition and networking
    • Access to an online portal to view recordings of all live-streamed sessions post-conference **
    • Digital copies of all presentations post-event
    • Tea, coffee on arrival and mid-morning as well as lunch during the conference

** Only the seminar session taking place in the main conference room each day will be recorded and available to view after the event.


This package is for those attending the ICC Belfast in person, and accompanied to the event by someone in a support role. 

Delegates selecting this option, will be asked to provide the name of the accompanying person.  There is no ticket charge for an accompanying person.


This package is for virtual access to conference plenary sessions streamed online, and includes:

    • Online access to all plenary sessions and the seminar taking place in main conference room **
    • Access to an online portal to view recordings of all live-streamed sessions post-conference 
    • Digital copies of all presentations post event

** Only the seminar session taking place in the main conference room each day will be recorded and available to view after the event.



 

By clicking SUBMIT below you are agreeing to share your contact information with Middletown Centre for Autism, who will use it to communicate with you regarding this event and their other services.

For information on how we use your personal data including your rights, see our privacy notice: www.middletownautism.com/privacy-policy

 

Application complete

 

Thank you for your interest in this event.  Your application to attend has been received. A member of our team will be in touch within the next two weeks to confirm if you have been allocated a place at the event.

Priority is given to autistic people, parents of an autistic child or young person, teachers and educational professionals based in the UK and Ireland. 

You will receive an email shortly confirming that we have received your application. Please check your spam / junk folders if it has not arrived within 30 minutes.

If you need any further information please contact a member of our events team by emailing info@event-ful.co.uk

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