Please join the Department of Brain Sciences for a seminar from Professor Sara Rankin on ‘Neurodiversity in Higher Education’.

This event will be hosted by the Department of Brain Sciences’ People, Culture and Engagement Committee with an introduction from Professor Sudhin Thayyil.

Join the event via Microsoft Teams.

Overview

People with specific learning disabilities (spLD) (Dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD or Autism) are often referred to as neurodiverse. Neurodiversity is a protected characteristic recognised by the 2010 Equalities Act.

Professor Sara Rankin is neurodiverse and in recent years has been working on

• an education innovation project with DAS and the EDU “To make teaching at Imperial more accessible for students with spLDs”  
• an outreach project- 2eMPower- developing and delivering STEM workshops for young people with spLDs. 
• establishing the staff /student network, ND in Albertopolis, With RCA, RCM and V&A. 

She trained as a Dyslexia Champion (accredited by the British Dyslexia Association) and in this role considers how employers and managers can create a working environment that supports neurodiverse staff, such that they can work to their full potential.

Professor Rankin’s talk will explain the strengths and weaknesses associated with being neurodiverse and how this affects student learning and staff in the workplace. She will describe why she thinks neurodiverse people can make excellent scientist and how businesses are now recognising the value of neurodiversity in the workplace. 

Professor Rankin has worked with GSK and AZ to set up their neurodiversity staff networks.

This talk will be of interest to staff and students with spLDs, academic staff teaching students with spLDs and managers who may have staff with spLDs.

More information

• Celebrating scientists with disabilities – Royal Society interview with Prof Rankin  
• Neurodiversity network – Imperial College Podcast interview 
• Professor Rankin was also recently awarded funding by the College’s EDI Seed Fund to establish a website for the staff and student neurodiversity network.