A free new online magazine has been launched that may be of interests to those with Dyspraxia and people generally interested in learning more about it.

It will regularly feature interviews with people who share their experiences of having dyspraxia:http://www.dyspraxialifemagazine.co.uk/

Disability History Month

The SpLD Times magazine was featured on the university's staff news pages during Disability History Month and you can view the pdf version by clicking here. Hopefully, it will inspire students and staff and get people talking openly about learning differently. As well as showing the filmed interview with Professor Brendan Stone, the news feature also promoted our exciting new online training portal: INK. Here's a link to the staff news page: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/staff/news/specific-learning-difficulties-1.820820

The SpLD Times magazine

Copies of the SpLD Times have now been distributed across the university and into the wider community. I've had very positive feedback and interest in the online/pdf version. I'm working with corporate comms and HR to make this happen so that we can reach a wider audience and get everyone talking about Learning Differently at TUOS.

Reflecting on the 2017/18 HEAR group project

It's that time of year again: successful applicants for the SpLD HEAR project 2018/19 have been invited along for informal interviews. Here is a reflection on the 2017/18 project by Natalie Lamb: 

Now that the project is over, my first thoughts about the overall experience are positive. I am proud of what the SpLD group have produced and love that it’s a physical item that can be held and distributed. I feel like the magazine will be of use to people with SpLDS and people who are interested in learning more about them. I feel like I am definitely proud of the output of this project, have met some really nice people and would really encourage others to be involved in similar projects going forward. I sincerely hope that people like the magazine and find it helps them.

Reflections on this year's HEAR projects

As part of their Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), I recently filmed some of the SpLD group project workers. Click  below to listen to their reflections and find out why it's worth getting involved in the project or the society.

An email invitation to take part in the next project will go out to students in early October.

SpLD Society

The SpLD Society has been busy updating their public profile (Twitter, Facebook & Instagram) and preparing to promote the group during Freshers’ Week. They want people to join them on the 29th of September, 4-5pm in View room 6 in the Student union for their first "Give it a Go" event, which aims to bring new and old society members together with a very chilled tea and coffee afternoon. They have also organised information talks from DDSS and 301, in order to highlight the services available to SpLD students.

Look out for their Posts and Tweets over the next couple of weeks.

SpLD HEAR Student Project 

Well done to The SpLD HEAR group for successfully completing their project for 2014/15. Aimee, Jack, Beth, Jenny, Chris and Phill collaborated to set up the SpLD student society as a platform for breaking down stigma, offering peer support, and promoting the positives of learning differently. Their plans for the future include running workshops, a buddy email system, podcasts, and even a festival. Those who are continuing on to become senior project workers will be sharing their knowledge and experience through outreach activities in the local community.

Here's what Jenny thought of the experience:

'So far, we have set up a SpLD society within the university to allow students to discuss different techniques and meet others with similar experiences to ours. After graduating in July, I have a position on Teach First to teach science to secondary students. I believe this project will help me in my future career path, as I have learnt new strategies for those with specific learning difficulties. I will continue to break down the stigma surrounding these difficulties and aid in the understanding of others about other SpLDs - which admittedly I knew little about before starting this project.'












 SpLD tutor (Chris Webb) with Chris.

The group enjoyed making new friends just as much as learning about each others specific learning differences, sharing strategies, and finding out how other departments in the university run. In the video clip below, Beth explains what she got out of being involved.

 
Although the project is recognised for the Higher Education Achievement Record, two of the students still wanted to be involved even though they started their degree courses before HEAR was introduced, simply because they saw it as an exciting and worthwhile opportunity. The students were all presented with a certificate to show our appreciation for their time and effort.

Chris presenting Aimee (President of the society) with her certificate.

What next?

In September we'll be launching the 2015/16 project. Aimee and Jack will be on hand to advise any of you who are interested in being involved, and will be able to pass on what they know in terms of the time commitment, group work and setting realistic goals. Beth is also keen to stay involved, despite being on placement in France next year. As secretary of the society she'll be attending meetings remotely via Skype!

So watch this space, and look out for the society during Fresher's Week. We'll post updates on the next project, and links to the web page as soon as it's up and running.