Para athlete who found success on the ice to share story

Four speakers with unique experience of disability and helping young people overcome barriers will appear in the University’s centrepiece Disability History Month event, Disability, Children and Youth: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities.

The thought-provoking panel discussion event on 29 November (18:00 – 19:00) will share their perspectives on challenges disabled young people still face, while celebrating their accomplishments in our communities every day.

Speakers

Dani Czernuszka-Watts

The panel includes Great Britain women’s para ice hockey player Dani Czernuszka-Watts, who is pushing boundaries for women in adaptive sports.

Dani is a full-time wheelchair user after a tackle on the rugby pitch in 2017 led to a spinal fracture. Since then, she has completed several marathons and sailed around Antigua on a boat crewed by disabled people, all while dealing with a complex recovery and chronic pain.

But it was a video about para ice hockey which really sparked her interest. Dani joined the Cardiff Huskies, and in 2021 she answered a call out for women with lower-limb disabilities to be a part of the Great Britain women's Para-ice hockey programme.

She quickly excelled at the sport, making history as the first woman to score a goal at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships in 2022, while representing the men’s Pool C team.

Ruth Pearse

Ruth Pearse is the founder and CEO of Parenting Special Children, a Reading-based charity supporting families of neurodiverse and disabled children.

Founded in 2006, the charity provides specialist parenting support to local parents and carers of children and young people with Special Needs, so that they can create positive change in their lives.

Anna Tsakalaki

Anna Tsakalaki is a Lecturer in Education at the University of Reading’s Institute of Education.

Her research covers areas such as literacy development, and the wellbeing of young learners with SEND during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anna will discuss findings from her work on inclusion of disabled students.

Sophie Flecknell

Sophie Flecknell is the Disabled Students’ Officer for Reading Students’ Union.

She represents and advocates for disabled students at the University, aiming to ensure they have the best experience possible.

Sophie will offer insights on disabled students' experiences. 

Event details

Disability, Children and Youth: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities will be chaired by Professor Elizabeth McCrum, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience and UEB Diversity Champion for Disability.

You can join in person at G06 Chancellor's Building, Whiteknights Campus, or attend online. A BSL interpreter will be present.

Registration is required. Book your place today to pre-submit questions and join this event.

Still to come in Disability History Month

There’s still lots more to come for the rest of Disability History Month, which runs until 16 December.

Highlights include: the Just Dance Now! accessible dance-along (27 November), Whiteknights House lighting up #PositivelyPurple for International Day of Persons with Disabilities (1 December), and training on making your digital content more accessible (13 December)

See the full calendar for details.