Dyslexia Hub presents: Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Day #2

University of Buckingham and the Dyslexia Hub would like to welcome you to the second Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Day!

Following the success of last year’s launch of the Dyslexia Hub with a Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Day in September 24 in the beautiful Radcliffe Centre on the Buckingham campus, the team will come together again for another Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Day, on Friday 19th September 2025, same place, same time.

The theme this year is: Dyslexia and Co-occurring Learning Differences in Further and Higher Education, aligning with our mission to ‘educate the educators’. Looking at Dyslexia and it’s correlations to Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia or DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder), Irlens Syndrome or Visual Stress, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder), all of which are learning differences that can impact a student’s ability to achieve their academic potential.

The Co-founders of the Dyslexia Hub Sarah Myhill, who is a Specialist Dyslexia Tutor, Author, Coach and Lecturer and her colleague Dr Patricia Covarrubia, IP Reader in Law in the Law School, at the University of Buckingham, will facilitate the day with Dr Bethany Kelly, Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Programmes in the Faculty of Education. The event will be chaired by Professor Nigel Adams, Director of Buckingham Enterprise & Innovation Unit (BEIU).

Sarah will talk about her Skills Assessment Survey, currently piloting in the Medical School and Patricia will be sharing the latest results from her 4-year research into alternative support strategies and assessment for neurodiverse students.

The speakers, who are experts in their fields, will be sharing their knowledge and valuable insights with us throughout the day. They include:

David Bovis, a leadership and culture change expert with a deep passion for how neuroscience can unlock human potential, particularly in learning. He is the originator of the BTFA™ Framework and The Dux Model, which bring brain-based clarity to the complex world of human behaviour, learning, and change.

Dr Adrian Wallbank Principal Lecturer: Education and Student Experience, Oxford Brookes University, and author of many published books and papers, including: Academic Writing, Assessment and Neurodiversity: Pedagogies for Inclusion (Routledge, 2025) and Academic Writing and Dyslexia: A Visual Guide to Writing at University. Second Edition (Routledge, 2022). Adrian will be talking about dyslexia in higher education and his own experience as a dyslexic lecturer, as well as his latest book. He works with many well-known authorities in the field and his research and knowledge around dyslexia and neurodiversity is extensive.

Prof Ann Dowker, a University Research Lecturer at the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford and a College Lecturer in Psychology at St Hilda’s and Keble Colleges, Oxford, passionate about the application of research in psychology to education and especially to the development of intervention programs for young people with mathematical difficulties. Ann is a published author of many books around the topic of dyscalculia, and she will be sharing her in-depth knowledge and expertise in this area.

Dr Mitchell Osei-Junior MBBS BSc (Hons) PG Cert Med Ed PCBT (Foundation). MBBS BSc (Hons) PG Cert Med Ed PCBT (Foundation). Mitchell is a Clinical Educator at University of Buckingham, Part-time Psychiatry doctor in North London Foundation Trust, Youth Mental Health First Aider and a Neurodiversity Advocate. Mitchell has lived experience of Dyspraxia and Dyslexia being diagnosed in his first year of university. In the area of neurodiversity, Mitchell has personal interests in positive psychology, mental wellbeing and increasing neuroinclusive practice and neuroacceptance in the education sector at high school, college, and higher education level.

Dr Dionysios Kyropoulos, Co-chair of PASSHE (Professional Association of Support Specialists in Higher Education), teacher, researcher, ADHD coach. Professor of Historical Performance and Academic Studies, Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Dionysios is a professional coach and trainer specialising in ADHD and neurodivergence, with a particular focus on supporting individuals as they navigate the intersecting demands of study, work and family life. He will be sharing his own personal experiences as a neurodivergent academic and how he successfully supports neurodivergent students to academic success.

Dr Ian Iceton, an expert on neurodiversity, particularly autism or ASD (-), in the workplace. Ian completed his Doctoral research (DBA) at Cranfield University in 2022, studying the factors influencing employers to successfully recruit and then retain autistic employees. He has also contributed to the employment work of Autism Action (previously Autism Centre of Excellence) at Cambridge University.

There will also be interactive activities and a Q&A panel discussion, so you will have tips and techniques to take away with you.

Free refreshments and lunch, courtesy of the renowned Louis restaurant, are included.

❗Registration starts at 9:30 am and the event begins at 10:00 am.

Tickets are £30 this year, so we can cover some of our costs, however we have limited space, so please do not delay.

Special discounts are available for schools, further and higher education staff, Helen Arkell and PASSHE. Please contact Dyslexia Hub at dyslexiahub@buckingham.ac.uk to access your discount code.

Looking forward to welcoming you all to Buckingham!

Some of the images and feedback from last year’s event.

LinkedIn post: Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Day 27th September 2024

‘The venue was beautiful, and I was enthusiastic at the end of the day to go home and research what I had learnt. I also adopted a few things I learnt that day, which immediately increased my productivity and improved my work-life balance. I will be coming to the 2025 dyslexia hub day for sure.’

‘Dear Patricia and Sarah, I’d like to thank you both for a wonderful event on Friday.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot from it that I can apply academically and professionally.’

‘Thank you for an amazing first experience of an academic conference, I found it both insightful and inspirational especially as I am beginning a new career as an academic.’

And… the ‘Louis’ lunch received very good feedback too!