UG’s Early Childhood Centre of Excellence, Int’l partners host disability access and inclusion conference

Nov 02, 2025 News

(Kaieteur News) – The University of Guyana (UG), in partnership with Texas Southern University, the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions, Carroll Community College, Joyful Signing, and the Ministry of Education (Guyana), on Thursday, October 30, 2025, hosted its inaugural conference on disability access and inclusion.

UG’s Early Childhood Centre of Excellence, Int’l partners host disability access and inclusion conference

Dr. Lidon Lashley, Director of the University of Guyana’s Early Childhood Centre of Excellence (UG-ECCE)

The conference, held virtually, provided a space for participants to “explore the impact of disability access across the spectrum, from birth to employment.”

The conference was held virtually under the theme “Empowering Inclusion, Transforming Futures” and was open free to all participants. The global conference attracted almost 700 participants from across the world, including individuals with disabilities, academics, practitioners, advocates, policymakers, and students dedicated to advancing accessibility and inclusion throughout the life course.

Dr. Lidon Lashley, Director of the University of Guyana’s Early Childhood Centre of Excellence (UG-ECCE), highlighted the university’s leadership in inclusive education and its commitment to disability equity.

“The University of Guyana leads the way in the Global South and Caribbean region in research in understanding the evolving and emerging trends in neurodiversity. As an institution, we are proud of our service to Guyana, the Caribbean, and the wider Global South in expanding research, providing culturally sensitive responses, and developing Indigenous resources for persons living with disabilities,” Dr. Lashley said, noting that UG’s Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity Policy and the UG 2040 Blueprint aim to ensure one graduate per household, inclusive of persons with disabilities and other diversities.

Delivering the opening remarks, Provost of Texas Southern University, Dr. Carol Goodman, underscored the global relevance of disability inclusion and the need for structural change: “Disability intersects almost every aspect of life. True inclusion means removing barriers and reimagining systems. May we leave here not only informed, but inspired to lead changes in our communities and institutions,” Dr. Goodman said.

Meanwhile, keynote speaker, Dr. Bea Awoniyi, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and College Ombuds at Santa Fe College, delivered a compelling address centred on the power of possibility and the transformative impact of belief and support in the lives of persons with disabilities.

The University of Guyana Early Childhood Centre of Excellence (UG-ECCE)

“Every student carries a universe of possibility inside them, and every educator holds the key to unlock those possibilities. When educators believe in possibility, the impossible does not have a chance,” Dr. Awoniyi shared.

Dr. Awoniyi further urged participants to go beyond minimum compliance toward cultivating belonging, dismantling attitudinal barriers, and designing systems where accessibility is foundational rather than optional.

Emphasising that inclusion requires action and compassion, Dr. Awoniyi challenged stakeholders to serve as “architects of possibility” and “quiet heroes behind every complicated puzzle”, creating environments where persons of all ages and abilities can flourish.

CEO of AHEAD, Mr. Stephan Smith, welcomed participants and applauded UG’s leadership in convening the international dialogue. “We are here to explore possibility. Everything leads from one stage of life to the next, and collaboration across the lifespan is essential. I am impressed by the leadership and vision behind this event.”

The conference also featured concurrent expert-led sessions exploring inclusive pedagogy, disability rights and policy, neurodiversity, accessible technology, early childhood intervention, employment pathways, and culturally responsive practices across diverse contexts. Participants engaged in knowledge-sharing and explored strategies for strengthening disability support systems from birth through adulthood.

The event forms part of UG’s sustained efforts to champion equity, diversity, access, and inclusion across Guyana and the wider Caribbean. The University’s Early Childhood Centre of Excellence continues to lead in research on neurodiversity, disability access, and inclusive learning. Persons may access a selection of UG-ECCE’s research at the following link https://ecce.uog.edu.gy/research-professional-development.

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disability access, Early Childhood Centre, Lidon Lashley, University of Guyana

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