The event is led by AMOSSHE Executive Members Sammy Li (University of Birmingham) and Keith Houghton (The University of Law).
Confirmed speakers at the event include:
Jason Hadley-Luxemburg is a Disability and Inclusion Advisor at the University of Law and is based at the Manchester campus. He has worked as a disability advisor specialist in higher education for over six years, with particular focus on supporting postgraduate law school students and working within the regulatory environments that govern postgraduate law courses. Jason currently chairs the University of Law Disabled Staff Network and is a former Chair of AccessHE’s Disability Forum.
Jason has particular interest in developing practice to support autistic people, whether students or staff. Alongside, he has worked closely in developing practice to remove the barriers that disabled students can face when accessing reasonable adjustment in education and employment, with a focus on reducing the need for diagnostic evidence, medical or otherwise, and with emphasis on student needs, not specific medical diagnoses.
Prior to his specialist work in higher education, Jason qualified as a teacher and taught History in secondary schools in the UK. Following his time in secondary education, Jason moved into teaching disabled young adults in further education.
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https://www.law.ac.uk/students/support/disability-and-inclusion/
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Brian has 20 years’ experience working across statutory, further and higher education. His extensive experience has ranged from teaching and co-ordination to operational and strategic management of direct services to students, and as a senior leader in UK and European organisations. He also has direct lived experience of disability throughout his education and career and has been an active advocate for disabled people across the education sector, hosting and speaking at national and international conferences, and formally representing the UK with European partners on UDL (Universal Design for Learning) principles and development.
Brian is an award-winning former Chair of the National Association of Disability Practitioners (NADP, UK) from 2018 to 2021, and is also a former Chair of the Learning Inclusively Network (LINK, Europe), serving as national and European leaders of research and practice on disability, inclusion and equality. He has most recently completed a two-year tenure as Chair of the English Policy Group for UCAS, as part of the UCAS Council, and is the Disability and Inclusion Service Manager at the University of Law.
With a core passion in inclusion and widening participation, Brian has maintained a determination in ensuring that all have the opportunity to aspire in realising their potential, and has represented the education sector in directly influencing national policy decision-making at UK government level.
With his in-depth knowledge of inclusion and related service aspects, including safeguarding and UDL, he continues to strive toward ensuring opportunities to achieve are equitably maintained for all, and fervently believes that equality is a right for all in education, employment and societally.
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https://www.law.ac.uk/students/support/disability-and-inclusion/
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brian-lutchmiah-518530
Sandev Panaser is a dedicated mental health professional with a strong background in psychology and over a decade of experience working across universities in the Midlands. His work has focused on promoting mental health and wellbeing within higher education. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandev worked on the creation of "Pause@Uni," an early intervention mental health drop-in service at the University of Birmingham. More recently, Sandev has taken on the role of Peer Support and University Mental Health Lead at Forward Thinking Birmingham NHS, where he is responsible for establishing a Peer Support Service for universities in Birmingham. His innovative approach to embedding lived experience into mental health services has been pivotal in fostering student resilience and wellbeing. Beyond his work in mental health he runs a business specialising in digital accessibility solutions for higher education, helping institutions create more inclusive learning environments through accurate lecture transcription.
Jane Thakoordin is a multifaceted artist, mental health advocate, and social work lecturer. As the manager of a university-based mental health service, she plays a key role in supporting students through early intervention. Jane works with The Children’s Society, where she leads a successful drop-in mental health service, which was created using funding from the Office for Students. Beyond her managerial roles, Jane founded Birmingham Artivistas, a collective dedicated to blending creativity with political activism, two passions that drive her work. In 2016, she also established The Black and Blue Collective, a live arts organisation that collaborates with artists and individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges. Her work continually reflects her commitment to using art for social change and empowerment.
