7 November 2007

Disability experts gather in Dundee

International research experts working in the field of profound intellectual and multiple disability will gather at the University of Dundee this week.

Two University of Dundee units - the White Top Research Unit and PAMIS, the charity which works with people with profound learning disabilities and their carers - are hosting the international meeting on research with the School of Psychology at the University of St Andrews.

Around 40 leading figures in the field from all over the world will take part in the meeting, which is being held at the £15 million New Teaching Block at the University of Dundee on Thursday and Friday of this week (Nov 8th and 9th).

The event is being conducted under the auspices of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disability - the premier international organisation concerned with research in this area.

The researchers gathering in Dundee will discuss a wide range of issues ranging from the support of people with multiple and complex disabilities, through to the ways in which research can be of positive help to individuals and their families.

"This is the first meeting this group have held in the UK and it is particularly apt that it is taking place in Dundee, where we have gathered significant expertise in how we develop new means of support for people with multiple and complex disabilities and their carers," said Loretto Lambe, Director of PAMIS.

"We look forward to discussions that will have positive outcomes for disadvantaged people with complex disabilities throughout the world."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Delegates at the meeting are coming from Japan, Thailand, Mexico, USA, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well as the UK.

Pre-conference interviews/photos may be available with Loretto Lambe from 9.45 am on Thursday.

For more information see:

PAMIS - www.dundee.ac.uk/pamis

White Top Research Unit - www.dundee.ac.uk/wtru

School of Psychology, University of St Andrews - http://psy.st-andrews.ac.uk/

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk