Call for Voices: NeuroAbility Symposium 2025

Tell us about your unique strengths and experiences in embracing neurodiversity! We are inviting individuals, learners, and educators to share their insights on creating neurodiverse-friendly learning environments—both face-to-face/kanohi ki te kanohi and online/o te mahi ako tuihono. Whether you are developing innovative solutions or fostering inclusive spaces, your knowledge can help drive positive change.

The NeuroAbility Symposium 2025 will be held at Otago Polytechnic / Te Kura Matatini ki Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, September 25th and 26th, with a focus on Kanorau ā-roro solutions and neuro-abilities.

Theme

The main theme for the NeuroAbility Symposium 2025 is Solutions. The following sub-themes should be considered for proposal submission: Education - Creating tertiary learning environments to support neurodiversity through personalised tools, early intervention strategies, and faculty training. Workplace - Prepare learners for inclusive work cultures by developing neurodiverse leadership skills, adapting campus spaces, and implementing supportive policies. Technology - Integrate assistive technology, AI, and accessible software. Explore VR/AR for adaptive learning experiences. Health and Wellbeing - Manage sensory needs and develop digital tools to support neurodivergent learners’ overall wellbeing.

We are seeking diverse voices from across the neurodivergent spectrum, including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Hyperlexia, Tourette's, Brain injury, Irlen's Syndrome, OCD, Synesthesia, Highly Sensitive people and co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or difficulties with executive function. Our goal is to build a stronger community of practice among tertiary educators by sharing knowledge and effective practices. We welcome contributions from across institutes of technology and polytechnics, universities, wānanga, TEOs, ACEs, PTEs, and international communities.

Key Dates

Monday 4th November 2024 - call for abstract opens
Monday 1st April 2025 - Registration opens for in-person attendance
Monday 21st April 2025 - Abstract submission deadline
Monday 19th May 2025 - Notification of initial abstract decisions and reviewer comments
Monday 9th June 2025 - Deadline for revisions and responding to reviewer comments
Monday 4th August 2025 - Draft programme released
Sunday 31st August 2025 - Registration closes
25-26th September 2025 - Symposium begins

Submission process

We invite you to deliver a 15-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session on research exploring neurodiversity in tertiary education from the perspective of learners and/or educators. We encourage submissions that highlight specific neurodivergent expressions and present effective strategies for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments. Please submit a title and an abstract of no more than 300 words. Your abstract should include the study's aims/objectives, the context/relevance of the research or problem statement, a description of the methodology and methods used, an indication of the results, and the significance and implications of your research. Please note that citations and references should not be included in your abstract.

Please ensure that your submission aligns with the principle of "nothing about us without us," meaning that individuals or communities directly affected by the subject of your research should be actively involved in the process.

Your submission will be double-blind peer-reviewed, so it is important to maintain high quality and address any potential ethical concerns.

To submit your abstract, click this link. If you do not already have a Microsoft CMT account, you will need to register and verify your email. Please use your institutional email address to help us verify your affiliation.

After creating your account and logging in, navigate to the Author Console page. Click on the “Create a New Submission” button, fill out all required fields as instructed, and click “Submit” at the bottom. You will be taken to a printable confirmation page and will also receive a confirmation email of your submission. If you need to make any corrections, you can edit your submission through the Author Console page until the submission deadline.

Note: Authors of accepted abstracts will be encouraged to submit a full article for the edition of Scope: Learning and Teaching. These articles should align with the broader themes of Learning and Teaching.