Media
Coverage of my work in web and magazine articles, and appearances in the media including podcasts and television.
For popular articles I have authored and recorded academic talks, see this page.
Podcasts
Why neurodiversity is relevant for all schoolchildren (Teachers' Voices series), January 2024
This podcast is part of a series featuring educators from around the world, produced by BOLD , "an interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to spreading the word about how children and young people develop and learn". In this episode, LEANS research and impact lead Dr Alyssa Alcorn talks about what neurodiversity is and why it matters, and teachers in Brazil, India, and Argentina talk about inclusive practice (and its challenges) in their contexts.
Listen for free on the Bold Website, or access links to this podcast on other platforms (25 mins).
Dr Alyssa Alcorn on the Middletown Centre for Autism podcast, May 2023
Alyssa discusses teaching and learning about neurodiversity. Podcast available on multiple platforms, linked from the Middletown website.
Alyssa: The LEANS project, teaching and learning about neurodiversity (19 min)
Magazines and web
Interview with the Middletown Centre for Autism Research Bulletin, Issue 40, April 2nd 2023
The Middletown Centre's quarterly research bulletin is aimed at professionals working with autistic children and young people. Issue 40 focuses on neurodiversity and features an interview with Dr Alyssa Alcorn about the LEANS project, including information about our new Champions programme, and advice on how people in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can get involved.
Download the issue for free, see pages 9-11
Magazine article: LEANS in GTCS magazine, November 2022 (issue 94)
LEANS is featured in a 2-page article as part of issue 94. This article includes interview content with Headteacher Dawn Thompson. Dawn was part of the initial LEANS evaluation in Scottish schools (2021) and reflects on why they chose to use LEANS, and its impact in class.
Download this issue for free, see page 40
Interview with Twinkl SEND digest, November 1 2022
This article reflecting on where the Learning About Neurodiversity at School (LEANS) project originated, why it matters, and how it can support teachers and schools. Twinkl is a popular teacher website and education publisher based in the UK.
Television
Featured neurodiversity expert, Channel 5 news, March 23 2022
The LEANS project was featured in a Channel 5 news segment aired on March 23rd, as part of a longer series on neurodiversity. The clip shows a sneak peek of an activity from the LEANS programme and some short interview content with LEANS researcher Dr Alyssa Alcorn. Many thanks to Mayflower School, Tower Hamlets for hosting us and the film crew!
Video clip - Channel 5 News via Twitter (2 m 45 sec)
Victoria Derbyshire show (BBC), Feb 2018
Featured in a live segment on AI, discussing the DE-ENIGMA social robotics project with a live demo.
View a clip: https://twitter.com/VictoriaLIVE/status/966370964291207168 (2 min)
Global with Matthew Amroliwala (BBC), Feb 2018
Featured live, discussing the DE-ENIGMA social robotics project with a live demo.
Please let me know if you have a clip of this!
Scientific contributor to the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, 2017
Appeared in “The Language of Life: Silent Messages” (episode 2) with lecturer Sophie Scott, in a segment on emotion learning and social robotics.
https://www.rigb.org/explore-science/explore/video/language-life-silent-messages-2017
CBBC’s Operation Ouch!, 2017
Operation Ouch is a medical and science program for children. Appeared in "Tremendous Tears", Season 6,
Episode 12. https://youtu.be/j1MqanCGLFY?feature=shared (from ~21 min)
