What About Us? Working with Young People to Make the Best of School and College.

By:

This paper briefly reports on a participative action research project, run in partnership between the University of Cambridge and the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities. The two year project focused on developing positive ways to promote the emotional well-being of young people with learning/intellectual disabilities (aged 11-22 years)in inclusive educational settings – secondary schools and colleges. The young people themselves were involved as partners in the research, suggesting ways to overcome barriers to inclusion. As co-researchers, they were able to make changes in their own schools and colleges to enable them to feel safer and more included in their educational communities. An additional outcome of the project was the development of a website, sharing the inspirational experiences of the project and to offer resources for young people, their families and staff supporting them in educational settings.

Stream: Special Education, Learning Difficulties, Disability

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Ann Fergusson has a background working in schools with pupils with a range of learning difficulties/ intellectual disabilities and other barriers to learning. Building on her experience as a practitioner, she now works in higher education where she has developed a profile of delivering professional development, research and consultancy within the field of special and inclusive education. Her areas of interest include the focus on the important areas of effective communication and personal, social and emotional development - including the voice of the learner and the involvement of children and young people in the learning process.