Neurodiversity and Education

Paul Ellis began teaching in schools and universities in the 1990s, and has held senior positions in two of the main international education providers since 2006. Within his current role, he is in charge of the worldwide recruitment and development of teacher-trainers. He has worked with teachers and school leaders on all continents to advise and support them in their professional learning. He has written or edited more than a dozen education books.


Amanda Kirby has held had a chair in developmental disorders in education at the University of South Wales since 2008. Her PhD was in emerging adulthood in developmental coordination disorder (DCD), from Leeds University. She is also a qualified general physician. She founded The Dyscovery Centre, a specialist centre for children and adults with developmental disorders, in 1997 and ran it until 2015. She is chair of Movement Matters, the U.K. umbrella organization for movement difficulties. She is also a patron of the Dyspraxia Association in New Zealand, medical advisor to the Dyspraxia Foundation in the United Kingdom, and a past advisor to the Dyspraxia Association in the Republic of Ireland. She has been on the international scientific committee for DCD and was part of the committee for the European guidelines for DCD and the 2019 International Guidelines for DCD. She is the CEO of Do-IT Solutions Ltd., a company providing person-centered assessments and support for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs) and related difficulties. Her interests and publications have focused on NDDs (particularly DCD and co-occurrence) and their impact on children, adults, and their families. She has run large-scale research trials and European Union projects and has published books and peer-reviewed papers in the field. She is active on Twitter and LinkedIn where she promotes Neurodiversity awareness and shares advice and support strategies.

Abby Osborne works at the University of Bath in the Centre for Learning and Teaching as their Assessment and Feedback Lead. She has extensive experience of mentoring and tutoring students, from secondary to further and higher education. In addition, she now works as a Consultant to support busy teachers to develop their inclusive practice.

Through her work with students and teachers, Abby has developed many practical strategies to overcoming multiple barriers to learning which we all face. She has recently published two books on inclusive teaching and learning and worked with teachers across the globe, covering the educational journey from primary to post- graduate study.