The Conference
Me! Multimedia and e-learning for Inclusion, was held on the 18th and 19th January 2007 at the University of East London. Me! focused on inclusion for people with learning disabilities through the use of multimedia technology by addressing three themes: information, advocacy and learning. A major aim of the conference was to disemminate findings from Project @pple, a research project with an overarching aim to explore how people with learning disabilities can access and participate in the range of opportunities presented by e-learning and the World Wide Web. This was funded by the ESRC and dti through the People at the Centre of Communication and Information Technologies ( PACCIT ) programme who also supported this event.
The event aimed to encourage discussion on issues associated with the inclusive evelopment and use of ICT and multimedia asking how these tools can best be used to ensure that people with learning disabilities are included in all aspects of their lives by having choice and advocating for themselves.
The event brought together people with learning disabilities and their supporters, educators, multimedia developers, policy makers and researchers. Other interested parties from academic, private, public and voluntary sectors also attended. Over the two days participants took part in a range of demonstrations and hands-on workshops as well as lectures, presentations and seminars.
Over 70 delegates attended over the two days spanning a range of organisations and interests. These included service users and their supporters, representatives from local authorities, social care, health and education as well as advocacy groups.
Delegates also included 150 health and social work students, carers and facilitators engaged in an Interprofessional Learning Project funded by the Higher Education Academy. The aim of this project is "To provide an interprofessional experience which enables health and social work students working with carers to focus on innovative multimedia communication methods for use with people with severe disabilities." It involves University of East London, City University and Queen Mary.
All had an opportunity to hear and discuss findings from Project @pple. There was also a chance to examine other prospects presented by the use of multimedia and e-learning and their relevance in other sectors such as social care, health and employment. Further work in these areas will continue with the Rix Centre's launch of the 'East London Living Lab for Inclusion' - a new 5 year project in which the Centre, together with its neighbours in East London, aims to research, develop and test new ideas, products and packages that use multimedia to help improve the lives of people with learning disabilities, their families and their supporters.
