Healthy Language is the Gateway to a Fulfilled Life: Minding the Gap in Language Development Across the School Years

British Academy/Wellcome Trust Conferences bring together scholars and specialists from around the world to explore themes related to health and wellbeing.

Language skills are crucial to our lifelong wellbeing and educational attainment. However, around 10 per cent of children face language difficulties, either on their own (Developmental Language Disorder) or in tandem with other diagnoses. Autism, learning disabilities, deafness and hearing loss often hinder language development. Growing up with multiple languages may also lead to differences in language development and education challenges. Importantly, language needs are too often not identified, particularly in older children and adolescents. This is due to insufficient knowledge of language development for children in this age bracket, exacerbated by insufficient communication across disciplines and services. As a result of this lack of support, these needs can lead to limited educational fulfilment, behavioural challenges, school dropouts or exclusions, mental health struggles, unemployment, or even involvement with the justice system.

This conference will set the agenda to increase understanding of language development during late childhood and adolescence across populations. By connecting knowledge across disciplines, it aims to raise awareness amongst policy makers and wider society about the urgent need to improve language assessment and support.

Conference convenors: ATLAS team

Professor María J Arche, University of Greenwich
Dr Alexandra Perovic, University College London
Dr Erika Kalocsanyiova, University of Greenwich
Dr Angeliek van Hout, University of Groningen
Professor Josep Quer, ICREA-Pompeu Fabra University
Professor Jeannette Schaeffer, University of Amsterdam
Professor Petra Schulz, Goethe University Frankfurt

Speakers across the two-day conference include:

Professor Artemis Alexiadou, Humboldt University of Berlin
Professor María J. Arche, University of Greenwich
Gemma Arnold, NHS, His Majesty's Prison Belmarsh and Thameside
Gerry Baker, South East London Integrated Care Board
Lord Paul Boateng, House of Lords
Professor Elise de Bree, University of Amsterdam
Professor Karen Bryan, York St John University
Professor Joao Costa, OECD and European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education
Professor Julie Dockrell, University College of London
Dr Susan Ebbels, Moor House Research & Training Institute, Moor House School & College and University College of London
Dr Esther Ferreira Dos Santos, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Professor Naama Friedman, Tel Aviv University
Dr Angeliek van Hout, University of Groningen
Steve Jamieson, The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Professor Victoria Joffe, University of Essex
Dr Stacy John-Legere, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Erika Kalocsanyiova, University of Greenwich
Carol-Ann Murray, NHS South East London Integrated Care Board
Dr Alexandra Perovic, University College London
Villano Qiriazi, Council of Europe
Professor Josep Quer, ICREA-Pompeu Fabra University
Professor Jeannette Schaeffer, University of Amsterdam
Professor Petra Schulz, Goethe University Frankfurt
Dr Sarah Spencer, University of Sheffield
Professor Laurice Tuller, University of Tours

Conference ticket prices:

• In-person: admission £40 per day (£80 for both days)
• In-person: concessions £20 per day (£40 for both days)
• Online admission: £10 per day (£20 for both days)
• Online concessions: £6 per day (£12 for both days)

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