Centre for Research in Special Educational Needs, Disability & Inclusive Education - visiting speaker seminar with Elias Avramidis

We are pleased to publicise that Elias Avramidis, who used to work here at the University of Exeter, will be visiting Exeter and will present to the SENDIN centre on 15 June 1-2.15 in BC06 (online link is below).

“Promoting the social participation of students' with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in general education: Preliminary findings from the FRIEND-SHIP intervention programme”

Elias Avramidis, Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Greece

Over the last fifteen years, there has been a resurgence of sociometric studies seeking to ascertain the social participation of students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in general education settings. This line of research has consistently found students with SEND holding reduced peer acceptance, having fewer friendships, and engaging less often in social interaction with peers than their average-to-high-achieving classmates. In this seminar, the shortcomings of traditional research designs are highlighted alongside the need to direct the researchers’ attention from measuring the social participation of students with SEN within their class network towards examining the quality and durability of their friendships. Following the presentation of a longitudinal research study that aspired to fulfill these aims, the importance of supporting students’ socio-emotional development through implementing relevant school-based interventions that address the entirety of the school population is emphasized. The seminar concludes with presenting the newly developed “FRIEND-SHIP” intervention programme and provides some preliminary data confirming its effectiveness.

We hope that you can join us in person and if not online.