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How robots can help us embrace a more human view of disability

How robots can help us embrace a more human view of disability

When dealing with the otherness of disability, the Victorians in their shame built huge out-of-sight asylums, and their legacy of “them” and “us” continues to this day. Two hundred years later, technologies offer us an alternative view. The digital age is shattering barriers, and what used to the norm is now being challenged.

May 22, 2017

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Local and Community History Month: Book recommendations

Local and Community History Month: Book recommendations

May is Local and Community History Month - a great time to find out a little more about how your village, town or city grew up into what it is today. The more you dig, the more you'll find that people, events and buildings all have fascinating pasts.

May 8, 2017

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#ThanksforTyping: the women behind famous male writers

#ThanksforTyping: the women behind famous male writers

It started when an American academic noticed how frequently the acknowledgements sections of weighty academic tomes featured a male author thanking his nameless wife for typing. 

May 2, 2017

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Why you don't need to write much to be the world's bestselling author

Why you don't need to write much to be the world's bestselling author

By the estimation of award-winning author Donal Ryan, there are times when 300 sales might be enough to make a chart topper – the bestseller mantle tends to have more promotional than monetary value. Of course there are the literary blockbusters — titles like Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code — books that ship hundreds of millions of copies. But combine the sales of JK Rowling and Dan Brown, even throw in John Grisham, and you’re still lagging behind the sales figures of the world’s true bestselling author — James Patterson. 

April 18, 2017

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Why children’s books that teach diversity are more important than ever

Why children’s books that teach diversity are more important than ever

If you think back to your childhood, what sticks with you? For many people, it’s those cosy times when they were cuddled up with a parent or grandparent, being read a story

March 27, 2017

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What brain regions control our language? And how do we know?

What brain regions control our language? And how do we know?

When you read something, you first need to detect the words and then to interpret them by determining context and meaning. This complex process involves many brain regions.

March 20, 2017

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My disabilities do not define me. I am Jim

My disabilities do not define me. I am Jim

I am an educator of educators. I teach others how to be the best teachers. But, I’m also different. I have learning challenges. I found my way and my life’s calling thanks to dedicated educators. As we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I am reminded of my personal journey. My disabilities could have defined me. But they did not. I do not consider myself dyslexic or learning-disabled. I am Jim. And here’s the story of how I overcame my challenges and the educators who helped me along the way.

February 27, 2017

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Eight podcasts to get between your ears this year

Eight podcasts to get between your ears this year

The podcast industry has grown exponentially in recent years, with recommendations for new podcasts as common as tips for restaurants and shows on Netflix. But what do experts listen to? The Conversation asked eight authors from across their sections to tell us about their favourite podcasts – and why you should tune in.

February 7, 2017

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Interview: Ben Aaronovitch on audiobooks, libraries and his Rivers of London series

Interview: Ben Aaronovitch on audiobooks, libraries and his Rivers of London series

Ben Aaronovitch is sci-fi and fantasy author. He's best known for his Rivers of London series, which follows a young police officer recruited by a special branch of the Metropolitan Police dealing with magic and the supernatural. Holly Newson spoke to Ben about writing for Doctor Who, the importance of libraries, and whether he’s honest when giving his opinion on his friend’s books...

December 21, 2016

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What you need to know about having dyslexia at university

What you need to know about having dyslexia at university

Going to university can be a test for anyone, fresh, or not-so-fresh from school. Students are not only expected to adapt to independent study and increased reading loads, but they also have to learn as soon as possible how to “do” the kind of academic writing and academic talk their given field demands. And for those students with dyslexia, this can be particularly challenging.

December 5, 2016

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