SIC Conference 2024 | Building an inclusive work culture
This year, SIC are shaking things up, making some noise and normalising conversations around disability and neurodivergence.
They’re shining a spotlight on the experts, professionals and researchers, with lived disability and neurodivergent experience, to ignite and encourage the key conversations that need to take place right now.
Accessibility and inclusion is not scary. Its critical. And it’s non-negotiable.
Let’s break down the barriers and work together to make change happen.
What to expect?
During this one-day conference, sessions will explore topics including the reality of using AI in hiring, chronic illness in the workplace, reasonable adjustments, and neurodivergence in the gaming industry.
Wherever you are on your journey to build an accessible and inclusive workplace, join SIC and immerse yourself in a diverse and intersectional offering of panel discussions, engaging talks, and break-out sessions that will leave you inspired, informed, and with clarity for the next step on your journey.
Are you ready to lead the way?
Our speakers
We’re building a day with expert speakers, all of whom bring their lived experiences. So far we have:
Pippa Stacey (she/her),
Alice Hargreaves (she/her)
Daniel O'Driscoll (he/him)
Georgia Bondy (she/they)
Dr Rachel Dugdale (she/they)
A panel of games industry experts with Ukie - sharing insights from an industry with high representation of neurodivergent professionals
A live recording of the Disabled Joy podcast
Lego Serous Play
The reverse job fair
For the first time ever, SIC are collaborating with the West Midlands Combined Authority to bring a reverse jobs fair to the West Midlands.
Prior to the event we’ll have been working alongside 20 disabled neurodivergent / chronically ill professionals who are experiencing ununderemployment. We’ll be providing them with expert training and mentoring.
During lunch - we’ll be inviting you to think creatively about hiring, and meet our talented pool of jobseekers.
SIC’s aim
To shed some light on what breaking down the barriers actually means.
To normalise conversations around disability and neurodivergence.
To erase the confusion surrounding responsibility and requirements.
Agenda
Full agenda coming soon.
Expect:
A main stage of speakers
2 workshop breakout rooms
A sensory zone
Quiet space
A jobs fair
A fully catered lunch.
Accessibility
Accessibility is vitally important to us at SIC.
All parrticipants will be sent an Access Rider ahead of time with everything you need to know.
We are delighted to welcome two BSL interpreters for the day and the interpreter will also be available for the networking sessions if required - please email hello@sicofficial.co.uk to request this service. Reserved front-row seating will be available for any attendees who feel they may benefit from this. Speakers will use mics. Unfortunately, no hearing loop is available.
The only recorded session will be the Disabled Joy Podcast.
Three different sensory / quiet zones will be open and a further quiet lound will be made available.
Attendees and speakers will be seated for the panel discussion, and seating will be available throughout the event. There is no obligation to stay for the duration of the event - you are welcome to attend for parts of the day or for the whole day.
When people are speaking, if you wish to leave the room, please do so quietly so as not to disturb the speakers.
There will be no music, flashing lights, or loud noises in the main part of the day. We will have a performance at the end of the day - more details to follow.
Health and Safety
We recognise that Covid is still having a serious impact on the disabled and neurodivergent community. We, therefore, ask that anyone experiencing symptoms not attend. There will be hand sanitisation available throughout the event.
If you’re unsure, please test.
Catering will be pre-packaged in a “packed lunch” style to prevent cross-contamination.
Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the conference
Pricing
FREE - This event is made by and for the disabled and neurodivergent community. We therefore offer free spaces which will still include all the event content and a catered lunch. If you are a disabled or neurodivergent professional, you are not expected to pay.
£5 - If you can, a small donation towards lunch would be greatly appreciated.
£10 - This covers most of the catering costs. If you’re part of a small business, feel free to offer £10.
£20 - This is our recommended fee for professionals who are attending on behalf of their employers or businesses. This helps us to cover accessibility costs and catering costs.
£30 - If you are joining us from an organisation that can afford to pay more for this event, this will cover all of the associated costs of attending.
£30+ - If you’re from a large organisation and can afford to pay a bit more, this helps us to cover the catering costs of those who cannot afford to buy a ticket.