Go See: The adept conference for people working in Deaf education, in Derby on 25th June

Dr. Melanie Thorley of the adept Committee, writes:

The Association of Deaf Education Professionals and Trainees (adept) are having their fortieth anniversary conference in Derby on Saturday 25^th June 2016.

The conference is relevant to anybody interested in D/deaf education and is a great way to meet other people with the same interests. We have interpreters and STTRs throughout the day

This year we are testing a different format to the day. Instead of afternoon workshops, we will have more presentations, thereby giving everyone the opportunity to take part in everything.

We will also be including more plenary/breaks between presentations, in an attempt to avoid information overload.

The presentations include the following:

Keynote 1: Rachel Sutton-Spence

Title: “The Linguistics of Sign Language Literature” 
Rachel will demonstrate how we can apply ideas from sign linguistics to analyse BSL poems and stories, so we can better appreciate the rich complexity of the language used in this beautiful art form.

Keynote 2: Craig Crowley, MBE.

Craig is CEO of Action Deafness, with over 20 years’ experience of senior management in voluntary organisations at local, regional, national and international level. He set up enterprising AD Communications (interpreting & Red Dot Connect), AD Books (publishing & BSL training), AD Community (1:1 support service) & AD Cultural (BME in East Midlands).

A distinguished leader within international sports movement, he served as President of International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD)/Deaflympics in 2009-2013. He’s now an Associate of Efficere Sports International and Honorary President of UK Deaf Sport. NRCPD board member and Signature Trustee. He was awarded an MBE for services to Deaf Sport at The Queen’s 80th Birthday Honours in 2006.

Martin McLean Education and Training Policy Advisor at NDCS

Title: ‘Transition to Higher Education and Employment’. 
The National Deaf Children’s Society has been producing new resources on post-16 transition which Martin will explain. The effect of access to higher education for deaf students in light of the changes to DSA will also be discussed.’

Paul Clark Managing Director of Note-Able Notetakers Ltd.

Title: ‘DSA, Mandatory Registration and Quality Assurance: a Notetaking Update.’
In February 2016, the department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced changes to DSA funding for Non Medical Helpers in Higher Education. Since April 2016, specific notetaking services are subject to the new regulations – including mandatory registration and minimum qualifications. Paul will outline current requirements, focusing on their implications for notetaking providers and service users.

It looks to be a fantastic line-up in a relaxing environment and Derby college is right next to Derby college.

More information can be found at this link: http://adeptuk.co.uk/Conference_2016

We hope to see some of you there.

By Dr. Melanie Thorley, Adept Committee