Positive change and making a difference for people with learning disabilities and autistic people: webinar 30 April 2026
The purpose of this event was to provide exposure to current research from Midlands Universities that is embedded in improving positive outcomes and impact on people’s lives.
This was the fourth research conference in a series initiated by WM-ADASS and NHS England when they reached out to the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham. Both have faculties focussing on research for and with people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
The funding partners - NIHR East & West Midlands - joined the collaboration from the second conference and support has also been received from REACH Out in the West Midlands, which is an NHS Collaborative organisation.
The 2026 event was the fourth in the series and the first delivered as a webinar – previous events have been face to face.
The recorded content is available to everyone, with the expected audience being people with lived experience and people with experience by profession.
The trailer above gives a brief introduction to each talk, and the full recording is available from this link
Programme
10:00 Welcome from Chair: Professor Peter Langdon, University of Birmingham and Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust
10:05 Reducing Medication for Behaviours of Concern in People with Intellectual Disabilities: What Works? Dr Danielle Adams, University of Warwick
10:25 Gaining an understanding of the sibling relationship when one child is autistic: Dr Louise Rixton, University of Birmingham
10:45 The Forgotten: Disabled People Who Are Subjected to Domestic Violence and Abuse: Sandra Simpson, Research Engagement Lead West Midlands ADASS, Doctoral Researcher & Practicing Social Worker
11:05 Development of a new anxiety screening tool for people with moderate to severe intellectual disability: Jessica Mingins, Research Associate, Aston University
11.30 Discussion
11:40 Thank you and closing remarks