The 2025 Salvesen Lecture: Neurodiversity in Education & Clinical Practice

Neurodiversity in Education and Clinical Practice: Joys, Challenges, and Future Research Directions

This year’s lecture will mark the Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre’s (SMRC) move to the Moray House Schools of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh. It will be delivered by the SMRC’s incoming Director, Dr Katie Cebula alongside Dr Kirsten Verity from NHS Lothian. Katie is a Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology who specialises in neurodiversity research focusing on relationships, families and school experiences. Kirsten is a Clinical Neuropsychologist who leads the paediatric neuropsychology service within NHS Lothian. Together their talk will draw on current research and professional experience. They will discuss the challenges faced by neurodivergent children and young people as they navigate a world built on neurotypical norms, and will outline current experiences in education and clinical services. They will also consider how joy can be cherished as these challenges are navigated, and the pathways down which future research can usefully travel. Joining them will be Alan Thornburrow, CEO of Mindroom, a charity which seeks to improve quality of life for neurodivergent people, who will discuss the unique partnership of Mindroom and the SMRC, and how their future work together will be shaped by four key research themes.

This year, the lecture will be delivered in-person, and accompanied by a drinks reception and expert panel discussion - panel members will be confirmed nearer the date but will capture research and practice perspectives across education and clinical services.

The event will begin at 5pm with a drinks reception, with the lecture beginning at 5.30pm, followed by a panel discussion, which will end at 7.15pm.

Venue: Godfrey Thomson Hall, Thomson's Land, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ. Details for finding the venue and local accessibility are available at this link: https://www.accessable.co.uk/the-university-of-edinburgh/holyrood/access-guides/thomson-s-land

This lecture is free to attend and open to all. For those unable to attend in-person, a link will be shared nearer the time to a live broadcast on YouTube with automated subtitling available. Register here for a direct live link, reminders, and a watch-later link sent direct to your email.

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