On 17 January, CSIE hosted a free public conference at the University of Bristol to celebrate over 40 years of work for inclusion. Made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the event brought together educators, researchers, parents, advocates, and other supporters to reflect on the history of CSIE and inclusive education, and to explore what lies ahead.

The day began with thought-provoking presentations from Professor Sue Sanders and Robin Richardson, setting the scene with reflections on intersectionality, language, and equality in education. The focus then turned to inclusion for children and young people with labels of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with contributions from Professor Brahm Norwich and CSIE director Dr Artemi Sakellariadis. In the afternoon, participants enjoyed the premiere of CSIE’s new short film and heard presentations from CSIE founder Mark Vaughan and current director Dr Sakellariadis, before looking ahead with contributions from Linda Jordan (NDTi) and Richard Rieser (World of Inclusion).

Around the venue, displays highlighted CSIE’s rich history, including translations of the Index for Inclusion, early Trends reports, and a specially prepared map charting CSIE’s global reach, prepared by our wonderful team of volunteers.

The conference received highly positive feedback, with participants calling it “exciting,” “stimulating,” and “thought-provoking.” Many said they left feeling inspired to take further action for inclusion and to reflect more carefully on the language they use.